On Friday night against Strasbourg (3–3), many PSG fans were stunned to see Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all starting on the bench. A bold rotation from Luis Enrique — but a deliberate one. So why does he insist on reshaping his XI, even in key Ligue 1 matches?
Speaking to Ligue 1+, the Spanish coach explained his approach: “This season, we prioritise rotation before and after international breaks. Players play a lot with their national teams. We want to win, but we must manage the squad to be ready at the end of the season.”
In other words, PSG are determined not to collapse in March, as they have in previous years. With the Euros and the Club World Cup ahead, every minute is being managed.
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Avoiding a New Injury Crisis
The target isn’t simply to beat Strasbourg or Lorient in October. The real mission is to have Hakimi, Vitinha, Mendes and Kvaratskhelia fully fit when the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals arrive. With a brutal schedule for PSG’s starting XI, rotation is no gamble — it’s a survival plan.
Luis Enrique is already anticipating criticism: “The title is won through endurance, not sprinting.”
He is ready to sacrifice points now, to win trophies later.
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