“There’s a blockage in finishing in the Champions League”, admits Luis Enrique

The Parisian coach takes stock after Wednesday’s 1-2 defeat by Atlético in the Champions League, and ahead of Saturday’s Ligue 1 matchday 11 trip to Angers (9pm).

Follow up quickly after Atlético : “It’s good. It’s positive to be back in the competition. High-level players are used to having good… and bad results.”

Désiré Doué : “Very good. There are no mathematical rules in soccer. Maybe a French player has an easier time adapting, but that’s not always the case, every case is different. Most players adapt easily, others more slowly. Désiré Doué is a high-level player for the future and for today. He needs to have the right mentality to help the team today.”

Some of these players wanted to come. And they could. But the price was exorbitant.

Luis Enrique on last summer’s mercato

Recruit a striker this winter : “I never complain about players I don’t have or injured players. I’d like to take this opportunity to say that no, I don’t have a shortage of players. During the last mercato, there were several players we tried to recruit, in different positions, but who couldn’t come because their club didn’t want to sell them. Some of these players wanted to come. And they could come. But the price was exorbitant. And we’re not going to pay exorbitant amounts. But with the players who came, I’m very satisfied with last summer’s mercato, with the players we have. And from there, we’re going to develop the team as best we can to solve our problems. It’s true that we lack efficiency in the Champions League. We’ve seen that. We’re below our best in C1, that’s true. Our objective? To progress. After that, it’s not as if there’s an on/off button to press. That’s not how sport works, it would be too easy. There are arguments and resources to improve it. But it doesn’t depend on one player, one injured player or one recruit. I see things differently. We’re going to develop and progress. It’s true that the figures are different for Ligue 1 and the Champions League. We’re doing well in the league. The C1 is more difficult and we have to play against very good teams, but there are solutions. The situation is very delicate in the Champions League, and we have to accept that. We’ll try to get through it with our own resources.”

How to overcome this lack of efficiency in C1 : “Doubt? I’d say more like an excess of responsibility. I’m not 100% sure. But when you look at it compared to last season, you get the impression that the Champions League is another world. But if you think you can win it by putting extra pressure on yourself, it’s a bad bet. We’re not the favourites. We mustn’t put any extra pressure on ourselves. We’d be depleting our resources if we created new blockages. We have to face up to that and see it in a positive, optimistic light. We’re going to improve our statistics. When can we do that? I hope as soon as the next match.”

Only six C1 wins under Luis Enrique since last season : “It’s typical… It all depends on what you want to take away. We were in the group of death last season. I accept the statistics but it’s pretty biased to present it like that. I accept being asked that kind of question.”

His solutions for the center-forward position : “What am I waiting for? What we’re all waiting for. I could defend the idea of playing with a false 9, I could tell you what it’s like to play as a 9. But those are my decisions. I’m always looking for what’s best for my team. What I think is right for the team is not going to influence what we say on the outside. You can criticize the false 9 when you don’t score and forget about him when he does. I’m aware of this kind of criticism, and I accept it. I use a 9 when it’s appropriate, depending on what I want, and also other profiles that will bring other things that I consider important for the team. There’s no coach who doesn’t put the players he considers the best on the pitch. You can like them or not, find them effective or not, I accept that.”

We’re doing well in the league, but it’s swampy in the Champions League.

Luis Enrique

His state of mind after Atlético : “I’m fine. After a game like Wednesday, and I’ve been through others, it’s hard to talk hot because emotions will absorb everything and the result means you don’t see anything positive. The ideal thing for the coach would be not to have a press conference right after the games (smile). But for the show, it’s better… Anyway, I’m feeling good, perfect, the more difficulties, the better. My competitive DNA drives me to want to improve for the next match, so I see the positives. We accept the fact that there’s a blockage in the finishing, we can’t hide it, and it’s something general, it doesn’t just concern one player. We need to overcome this, through confidence, by creating clearer situations and with a collective mentality. But as far as I’m concerned, I feel very good, positive and optimistic. I know it’s a medium- to long-term project, and there will be ups and downs. We’re doing well in the league, but it’s boggy in the C1. We’ll be playing against the favourites for the European title (Bayern, City). It’s a tricky situation that we need to resolve.”

How to overcome this stalemate : “It’s a question of dynamics. Everyone tries to do a little more, but when confidence becomes negative, when there’s a blockage, you’re going to come down off the mountain… But we’re trying to see what we can do in the field to overcome that. There are resources we can use to change this, but once again, it’s not enough to press an on/off button. There are resources to help the players and that’s my job.”

Few overtaking functions and initiative-taking among midfielders : “Midfielders have an obligation to project themselves into the box, to score, to make decisive passes. This is not the case. If there’s one characteristic to highlight for PSG, my teams, it’s attacking, putting pressure on and the figures are impressive, the number of attacks, shots in the box… We’re the team that concedes the fewest shots, but it’s true that in terms of efficiency, there are problems, the statistics show it. But you have to look at the positives. They’re trying to win, but we need to do it in a calmer, more relaxed way. The team is strong and needs to resolve this. It’s not just one or two players.”

Vitinha less decisive : “It’s the same answer as to the previous question: all midfielders have an obligation to score and make decisive passes. If we want to solve this as a team, it’s not a question that only concerns the midfielders, the wingers, the forwards… All the players have the same job, with the idea of always having this mobility to get into the box with four or five players. Who makes the pass? It doesn’t really matter. We’re one of the teams with the most players in the opponent’s box. The instructions are clear. All the players have a responsibility, but it’s part of soccer for a player not to be at his best. But there are no instructions not to go into the box or not to shoot.”

Training work on finishing : “The situation is clear. There’s no team that doesn’t train on finishing, there’s specific work, we do it every week, we’re no exception. But I repeat: you can’t concentrate on just one thing. When you do, it becomes an obsession. You have to be calm and prepare for your matches in the best possible way. Soccer is a sport where there will always be missed opportunities, maybe not as many as we’re having right now… But we’re going to improve and I’m sure my players have the ability to do so.”

We’ll have to rotate the team. There will be changes (in the 11 at Angers).

Luis Enrique

Four C1 finals : “The most important match is tomorrow. Questions of efficiency don’t arise in Ligue 1. There’s no extra pressure. The numbers are good. With so little rest, we’ll have to rotate. We’ll have to play a good match with the team. Angers will be highly motivated, they’re playing at home and have had good results in recent games, so it’ll be a tough match.”

Angers : “They know how to create space with their wingers and centre-forward, and they can create problems with transitions. Tomorrow, it’s another competition, an away match, and we know the importance of this kind of game. We want to show the same image as usual in the league. That can help us for what’s to come. There will be changes (in the 11). It won’t be an easy game. I need all the players ready.”

Interview at the press conference

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