PSG-Rennes: “That’s life, that’s life,” Luis Enrique says ironically after his team’s last two matches

Luis Enrique and the journalists, episode 78. A few hours before the press conference on the eve of the match against Rennes, a new extract from the Movistar series, following the Parisian technician, has leaked again. We learn that the latter would be ready to reduce his salary by 25% to avoid appearing in front of the media. The Spaniard reiterated these comments but also returned to the two less flamboyant matches of his team against Girona (1-0), then Reims (1-1), on the adaptation of Joao Neves and the overloaded schedules, saying all the same that he was excited about the Club World Cup at the end of the season. And obviously the reception of the Bretons, four days before the trip to Arsenal in the Champions League.

For the past two games, your team has been less flamboyant, how do you explain that?

After the international break, you also did not find the efficiency of your first outings. Is this linked to a physical setback?

I see things differently. Throughout a season, there is an evolution. There are good and bad moments, it is part of the logical process of the team’s growth. On the contrary, I find that the team solves the problems that the opponents cause us.

Will this match against Rennes allow you to prepare for the match against Arsenal?

At no time against Rennes will I think about the Arsenal match. We have to win the match against Rennes, everything else is in the future and doesn’t interest me.

Almost two months after his arrival at PSG, what is your assessment of Joao Neves’ first steps?

What I expect from him is the same as I expect from all the players in midfield. He is perfectly adaptable to my idea of ​​play: he has a vital characteristic for us of not losing the ball. He has the vision of the game, his physical power, intelligence, his relationship with his teammates. He also brings intensity, offensive and defensive rhythm. He adapts very quickly, like Pacho, Safonov and Doué. He and the other players who have arrived all have a good connection with the rest of the team.

In the Movistar documentary, the first episode of which is released on September 30, you claim that you would not have coached the PSG of Messi, Neymar and Mbappé. Why?

I don’t remember anything anymore (irony). I will use this press conference to give my opinion. Any sentence taken out of context in a documentary, I will not comment on it. What I do in a doc is what I do in a match preparation situation. All the sentences I say to my team are part of my job as a coach, I love it. I will not comment on it because these are things that are taken out of context.

In the same documentary, you say that you are prepared to give up 25% of your salary to avoid appearing before journalists. Can you tell us about your relations with the press?

I’m having a good time with you. I’ve never cut a press conference short, I like to talk, I say what I have to say. It was a spontaneous thought. If you tell me that I’m signing a paper and I don’t talk anymore and you take away 50% of my salary, I’ll sign. When you sign a contract with the club, you have to talk. If I can avoid it I will avoid it, especially the post-match interviews. He grimaces.

We saw against Reims that your team had difficulties against the low block. How can you solve this problem?

Rennes are used to high pressing, but I don’t think they will do it tomorrow because they are a team that adapts. My job is to face it and find solutions. It is very difficult to fight a low block.

What do you think of your next opponent, Rennes?

It’s a team that plays at the top of the table, it caused us a lot of problems last season. The Bretons take points against us, they will vary in their behavior as the match goes on. They did it last season. There is no easy match. There will be problems, but I am someone who is optimistic about this type of match. We play at the Parc and it stimulates us.

You have started 21 different players this season. Is this a way of involving as many players as possible?

With eleven players, I could have very clear objectives but what interests me is the more global context and for that, I need 23 players to help the team and for them to show me that they want to play.

Last week Guardiola and Rodri stigmatised the overloaded schedules imposed on clubs and players. Do you believe, like them, that it is up to the players to take matters into their own hands, to act or to strike?

Of course, it is the players who must speak. The calendar is very busy, especially theirs (Manchester City’s), ours is less so since we have two fewer teams in the championship. A less busy calendar benefits everyone.

But there is the Club World Cup at the end of the year…

Once every four years there is this new competition that is extremely exciting, everyone wants to go to the Club World Cup. It could be reduced for the health of the players. I believe in reducing the calendar but our panorama is different from English and Spanish football. I share the problem but in my situation I have no right to complain.