Reims – PSG: “My job is to be unfair”, admits Luis Enrique

No time to breathe. Three days after the victory against Girona (1-0) at the end of regulation time on a mistake by the Catalan goalkeeper, PSG resumes current affairs this Saturday with a trip to Reims. A trip that will miss Marco Ansesio, victim of a contracture in the right thigh and Gianluigi Donnarumma who continues his treatment on the thigh. Long-term injured, Presnel Kimpembé, Lucas Hernandez and Gonçalo Ramos continue their protocol. Not enough to lower the coach’s ambitions.

Will the absence of Marco Asensio, who has a right thigh injury, benefit Randal Kolo Muani?

Given the number of injuries, do you regret not having taken more reinforcements this summer?

Non.

How do you explain that Ousmane Dembélé has had such a good start to the season and that, with the exception of the match against Girona, he is more effective than last season?

In my opinion, Ousmane is the same as last season. Maybe he is a little more efficient in the final move. But for me, he has always been decisive. He has abilities to eliminate his rivals that are unique. Maybe he needs to work a little more on his efficiency to improve a little more. But I repeat, the version of Dembélé last year was very good, it is still today, even if like everyone, he must always try to improve.

How does the group feel three days after Girona?

Two days between games is the shortest time we can have… After the Champions League, there is always a risk because it is a very demanding competition. But that does not prevent us from being able to manage playing away in the league against a good team in different circumstances.

Michel Platini has just made a proposal to play 10 against 10 in order to make football more spectacular. Is this a crazy proposal for you?

I never thought about that. There are probably plenty of possibilities, I am open to discussion to improve our sport. One less player on such a big field, why not? At the Olympics, I discovered rugby 7s and 3×3 basketball…

Achraf Hakimi is widely used in both club and national teams. Aren’t you afraid of injury or a drop in form?

(He taps the desk several times) The French are used to touching wood for luck, right? Hakimi’s performance in recent years has been at its best physically and technically. There are many possibilities to manage his personal situation. We hope to see him for a long time this season.

Do you consider that the squad is better than last year’s despite the reduction in the number of players?

Before knowing the team we were going to have, I said it would be better. And next year, it will be even better even if I don’t know who we’ll have. That’s the positivity I’m trying to instill in the team.

How do you judge Lee Kang-In’s start to the season and why does he have the typical profile of a player compatible with your philosophy?

I am compatible with all the players! But my job is to be unfair. I repeat, to be unfair. Against Girona, 16 players deserved to be starters, but only eleven can play. I will be unfair throughout the season. I would like to be very unfair with many of them. That means they are ready and are all good. I signed for this, whether it is ugly or beautiful, it is the job of the PSG coach. I hope to do it in the best possible way. I was unfair in this match against four or five players, it is true, but that is life. What do I think of Lee? When I arrived and I knew he had been bought, I knew him very well from La Liga. He is a very different player, with abilities with and without the ball, he can play in different positions, in the middle, up front… He is very strong with and without the ball, unpredictable and physically strong, I am very happy to have him!