On the eve of Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 trip to Lille, Luis Enrique faced the media. The PSG coach discussed Ousmane Dembélé’s period of rest, Bradley Barcola’s future, his team’s start to the season and the Champions League draw.
The main topic was inevitably Dembélé, who will miss the game against LOSC after being given several days off. Luis Enrique played down the situation and dismissed any suggestion of a problem with his forward. He explained that the break was part of his squad management after a particularly demanding summer. “I’m a big admirer of Ousmane Dembélé. He’s an essential player. He made a huge effort this summer to be available for the Super Cup finals during his holidays. He has been, he is and he will be an essential player for us,” said the Spaniard, adding that “it’s important to switch off” and that other players could receive similar breaks during the season.
Luis Enrique cautious over Barcola’s future
Another major topic was Bradley Barcola, who is reportedly close to joining Liverpool after an agreement was reached between the two clubs. Luis Enrique refused to confirm anything publicly, offering only a brief response: “Barcola is still a PSG player.” A few minutes later, however, he mentioned Barcola among the players who have contributed to PSG’s recent success, stressing that trophies cannot be won with just eleven starters. “I need 23 players to win titles,” he insisted, refusing to establish a definitive hierarchy between starters and substitutes.
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After the 2-2 draw at Rennes, PSG will be looking for their first Ligue 1 victory of the season in Lille on Friday. Luis Enrique admitted his team is not yet at its best but showed no concern. “At this stage of the competition, a lot of things are still missing, but it’s the same for the other teams. Nothing to worry about,” he said. He nevertheless expects a serious test against LOSC and Davide Ancelotti, whom he described as “a very good coach.”
The day will also feature the Champions League draw, although Luis Enrique has no intention of watching it live. Jokingly, the Spaniard revealed that he would rather go cycling during the ceremony and leave Luis Campos and the club’s representatives to discover PSG’s future opponents. “When we get home, we’ll see what’s on the menu,” he joked, adding that he would happily sign up for the same European results as in recent seasons. Despite all the trophies already won, Luis Enrique insists he still has “the motivation of the first day” and hopes to continue his adventure on the PSG bench for many years.
