Leverkusen v PSG: Luis Enrique on returns, Pacho, Chevalier, Mendes | OneFootball

Tuesday, during the 3rd day of the 2025-2026 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain (3rd) will face Bayer Leverkusen (25th) at the BayArena (kick-off at 9 PM, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, Parisian coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.

Luis Enrique "We are very happy to have him, like Marquinhos. And Désiré Doué."

Should we prioritize the Champions League to qualify as quickly as possible?

What we are looking for is the same as last year: to get as many points as possible. We have a tough draw, but that's the goal. Tomorrow will be a good test for both teams. We are happy to have won the previous two matches, but tomorrow is a different game.

What changes does it make to finally rely on Dembélé, the Ballon d'Or?

You think a lot about the Ballon d'Or, but it's mostly about Dembélé. He's the same player. We are very happy to have him, like Marquinhos. And Désiré Doué. It's always important for us to have these options. We want to know their feelings in training today and tomorrow we'll see.

Luis Enrique "We want to continue together."

Why are Neves and Ruiz still absent? Did they have a relapse?

I don't know. They must first overcome the medical point. When the doctors and the players are confident, they return to the group. That's not the case, we have to wait. We have had very good news with returns, we are waiting for the others.

Did you know Pacho before he signed with PSG? How did he win you over?

We recruited him because we knew him. We work a lot with the management and staff. We were happy when he arrived and he performed well from the first match. It's not normal. He is young, he can improve many things. He is very strong defensively, he recovers the ball without fouling. We are happy, he can improve. He has the mentality of a player to be decisive. We want to continue together.

Luis Enrique "Do you remember how long you criticized Donnarumma?"

What do you think of Lucas Chevalier's beginnings? Is the adaptation difficult?

There's nothing. It's the same every year. I am very happy with him. For me, he is one of the best options. I am very happy with his performances. When we recruit, we think long-term. He has personality, he shows it in training and matches.

Do you remember how long you criticized Donnarumma? I remember, you criticized him for 4 years. I wasn't a coach at PSG, I already heard the criticisms. When you are a goalkeeper for a club like PSG, you have to learn to live with it. I like Chevalier's personality and level. We are confident that he will be important for many years. When I see his performances, I see what I want to see. That's enough for me.

Was the victory against Barça important? Did it give confidence?

Of course, confidence is the word. Especially for young players. They showed they have quality. This start of the season has been very different, very difficult. We have overcome difficulties that are not normally there. But we have shown fighting spirit, resilience. Tomorrow will be an important match. The sooner we can get points, the better. We only think about winning and deserving it. It will be difficult.

Luis Enrique "We need to train today to see the state of our players, then play tomorrow."

Leverkusen is less flashy than Barça, what have you identified?

It's difficult to assess Leverkusen. There are 20 new players, a new coach. There are things we might be able to use, but it's a team with a coach who has the ability to score, who can defend very low, who can press.

Like every match for us, we have to see what the opponent will do. We have to know how to manage, as usual. Each match presents different situations. We are calm, we are ready. We need to train today to see the state of our players, then play tomorrow.

Luis Enrique "He can play in all positions."

What is the importance of Nuno Mendes and how can he progress?

You know his qualities. He is a different player, he is a defender and an attacker (smile). He can play in all positions. It's nice to have to manage the playing time of internationals. Like Vitinha or Hakimi. There are very important players to manage to try to reach the most important moment in the best conditions.

How does Joaquin Valdes help you?

We have experience, we have worked together for many years. He is the only one who has been with me throughout my coaching career. It's easy for us, we perfectly know the highs and lows of a season for the players, the staff.

We are used to living through this. Experience is important. You have to be able to analyze many things, but experience also counts. We have a psychologist on the staff, it's not usual but it's one of the best things for me.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.