On the eve of the match against Rennes, Luis Enrique covered many topics in a press conference, without exposing himself too much.
When asked about Achraf Hakimi, he wanted to reassure: “Good news. No further information. We are waiting for him to recover. Then there will be the AFCON.” Regarding rumors about Jérémy Jacquet, the coach remained tight-lipped: “I do not talk about any player who is not in Paris.”
He then detailed the focus of the week’s work: “After the defeat against Monaco, we gave the players some rest. After that, we worked on important offensive aspects. (…) We had a very good week.”
Luis Enrique also mentioned a complicated context: “This season is particular (…) we still have injuries. We need to manage this schedule.” But he assures that the World Cup is not a hindrance, quite the opposite: “It’s positive! (…) The players want to show that they are ready to represent their country.” Regarding Habib Beye, he joked about the media turnaround: “Five weeks ago everyone wanted to kill him, today he’s the best!”
Concerning the team spirit in the locker room, he is confident: “I think we are a very consistent team. (…) The players have the same confidence.” On managing playing time, he fully acknowledges: “The Champions League and Ligue 1 are two important competitions. (…) We need to manage all of that.”
“It will be difficult, Rennes plays very well”
About Rennes, Luis Enrique does not expect any gifts: “It will be difficult tomorrow, Rennes plays very well (…) We are aware of this difficulty but it is a motivation.” While Paris occupies the 2nd place in the league, he refuses any nervousness: “Annoyed? No, it’s deserved. (…) It’s a motivation. (…) Right now, the best team is clearly Lens.”
On Kvaratskhelia, he remains simple and direct: “I am very happy with his performances.”
When questioned about Matveï Safonov, he deliberately dodged before admitting: “I understand French. I don’t want to say anything about any player. (…) Whatever player is in goal, it will be a good option.” Finally, he confirmed an important absence: “Désiré Doué will not be able to play.”
A press conference where Luis Enrique maintained control, delivering some messages… while locking down the essentials.
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