More than a year after leaving his post as Spain coach, Luis Enrique met the Iberian press this Tuesday at a press conference.
We expected the Parisian technician to be teasing with those with whom he has long maintained more than tense relationships.
Calm and smiling, the Spaniard certainly wanted to exude the serenity he advocates on the eve of major events.
As he emphasized after the success against Lille on Saturday evening.
From the outset, he went back on his communication in the run-up to this meeting and denied the idea of wanting to “protect the players”.
“We want to experience what we consider to be high-level competition in the most natural way possible and keep a calm state of mind,” he explained at a press conference on Tuesday.
Whether for Luis Enrique or for Fabian Ruiz, whose presence at the press conference does not mean that he will start on Wednesday, questions about the atmosphere surrounding this meeting have returned.
A particular pressure, a different approach?
“Mbappé?
The more he plays, the better it is for the team.”
“We are rather calm, we try not to be stressed.
We have a lot of desire, enthusiasm, with everything the coach asks of us.
What matters is being ready,” said Fabian Ruiz.
“What is certain is that we are in a learning process and we can feel that we are ready,” said his coach more directly.
Beyond the match against the Basques, the former Naples midfielder was also questioned on the objective of winning the Champions League, on the expectations that this competition has aroused since the arrival of Qatar Sports Investments in the head of PSG in 2011. “What happens outside, we cannot control it but we inside I can assure you that we are calm,” Ruiz admitted to journalists.
PSG must be present in all competitions.
We work to progress but we don't feel obliged to earn it.
We want to win it, like all teams, but we don't feel any particular pressure or obligation.
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“Mbappé is in good shape and will have a great match”
To strengthen its confidence, Paris can count on Kylian Mbappé.
Luis Enrique confirmed it and Fabian Ruiz said a little more about his state of form for what could potentially be his last Champions League match at the Parc des Princes in the jersey of the capital club.
“He received a blow but he trained on Sunday and today (Tuesday), he is in shape to play and will have a very great match,” bet his teammate.
“I believe that when a team has a player of the rank of Kylian Mbappé, the only thing you have to understand is that the more he plays, the better it is for the team.
He could have played four days ago but the risk was not useful,” says his coach.
On Wednesday, he will be able to rush into the spaces left by a Real Sociedad team which never hesitates to defend very high.