PSG v Atalanta: Luis Enrique on Lee, Kvaratskhelia, confidence, ambition | OneFootball

Wednesday, on the 1st day of the Champions League 2025-2026, Paris Saint-Germain will face Atalanta at Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+). On the eve of this match, PSG coach Luis Enrique answered several questions at a press conference.

Luis Enrique "As champions, we want to recapture that feeling."

Harder matches as European champions?

I don't know, I don't see any difference from last year. It's always hard to win and I had the same feeling.

PSG being efficient while playing less well, is it normal considering your summer?

I don't agree (smile). It's always difficult to analyze and value what we do. Last year, there was a very complicated moment due to lack of efficiency. But it's the normal process of a team that wants to improve.

At the moment, I think we are more confident at this stage of the competition. We are starting the Champions League, it's a very different competition. As champions, we want to recapture that feeling. That's the goal from the first match.

Luis Enrique "We will decide tomorrow."

Any news about Kvaratskhelia and Lee? Can they be in the group?

Lee for sure, for Kvaratskhelia we have to wait for his feelings. We will decide tomorrow.

Barcola will have even more responsibilities. What do you expect from him?

I expect the same as for everyone else, I hope he will improve like every player. Individually and as a team. When there are injuries, there are difficult times. I'm not going to talk about just one player, but about the team's mentality to overcome this.

Luis Enrique "It will be hard to predict what they will do."

What do you think of Atalanta, who have changed coach?

It's hard to answer, as they have only played 3 matches with different opponents from us. It will be hard to predict what they will do. But if I think about what Atalanta has done in recent years, they are hard to play against, they know how to press high, play with the ball.

It's always difficult against an Italian team. We are used to not knowing what the opponent will do, but rather to adapt to different styles. I hope we will be up to the task tomorrow.

You managed to defuse the Champions League, but how to keep calm despite the injuries?

During the season, it's normal to have different moments. There is joy, there is sadness. We have to adapt to that. We are starting a competition that has been a benchmark for the club. As European champions, with a city like Paris, with this club, our supporters, the goal is to make history again and win for the second time. We know it will be difficult, but we want to be ambitious.

Luis Enrique "We always have to think about improving."

Coaches also need to improve? What do you need to change in your speech?

Coaches improve every day! (laughs). I always want to improve, show my players that there is no tranquility to face what awaits us. For me, the staff and the club, it's normal to be ambitious. We always have to think about improving.

PSG will be the team to beat, are you considering a change?

That's why I watched the match from above on Sunday, to see different things, things to improve and talk specifically at half-time. I've been thinking for a while about adding this to our plan. It's to improve our performance. I don't know yet for tomorrow. But in the 2nd half, of course, I will be on the field.

Luis Enrique "we showed the way."

Is the team physically ready with the ball?

Of course. It was a particular circumstance the first week, when you see that the players don't have fluidity with the ball. But they are professionals, of very high level, you can see the quality in training. I can say that the level is there, a very high level.

All the pressure from the first UCL is gone, making you even more dangerous?

More dangerous? (laughs). The first UCL is always the hardest. Do you know why? So that the players think they can win it, the supporters too. Now, we showed the way. Everyone wants to win it, they saw that we are capable.

It will be difficult, of course. But the first one is harder than the others. And I hope that with this mentality that we have, we will find our level and we will have a great competition.

A new era is beginning at PSG, with the desire to Frenchify the team. How many French players are you aiming for?

It has been a goal with Luis Campos, to recover a little bit of the identity. But for me and for the supporters, when you see the player with a PSG jersey then he is Parisian. He is a player who defends our colors.

A player who arrives must be of very high level, we work for that. It's also important to have French players. When we talk to them, they can say a lot about the culture of the city, of the club.

Luis Enrique "It's a very aggressive team, that leaves no space or time."

A club that just won the UCL can be a bit soft afterwards, how to do the opposite?

I don't do anything special. The players are also ambitious. I remember last season, I said they don't get tired of playing. They enjoy playing football. It's like a child, who never stops. That's what we want. It's easy for me to motivate our players, to strive to be as ready as possible for the challenge. It's hard, but we are confident.

What do you think of Lookman's absence?

I avoid talking about players who are not at PSG and I prefer to think about the players who are here. It's a very attractive match, against the winner of the Europa League 2023-2024. The new coach knows the club's philosophy, he worked with Gasperini. It's a very aggressive team, that leaves no space or time. We are very eager for the competition to start.

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