Luis Enrique: 'This match will be a test for us'
The Paris Saint-Germain coach answered questions from PSG TV and the press before Matchday 23 of Ligue 1 against Stade Rennais FC, on Sunday 25 February at 17:05 at the Parc des Princes.
RENNES
"We've had a very positive run of matches because we've met the best teams in the French league in the last few games. On Sunday, we'll be playing against a team that has one of the best records in Europe. They've won ten of their last eleven matches, and that was against AC Milan. They're a team with top-class individuals who work well in attack and defence. This will be a test for us. I love this kind of match, like the one we're going to play at Monaco afterwards. They will be very tough opponents who will force us to play our best."
PREPARATION
"Everything we do in football has a direct bearing on the upcoming matches. For example, this week we've been working on the recovery phase, defending under high pressure and pulling back. That's normal and logical work for any coach. We work according to the objective, what we see and what's going to happen. You always have to create competition between the players if you want to fight for all the titles. It doesn't matter whether they're young or experienced, but the players have to have ambition and the desire to improve in every position. That's what I'm aiming for. It's an attractive idea. We want our fans to enjoy watching their team play. It's simple, but difficult at the same time."
DYNAMICS
"It's always positive to have a good run of results. But the coach always has to make sure it doesn't get complicated. It's good to have good momentum, but you mustn't let up. That's what I fight for every week, in training and when preparing for matches. Good results also mean that you have to stay focused, both in matches and in training."
LEAD
"We're very happy with the distance between us and second place. It's something we have to fight against for a lot of weeks. It's perhaps a handicap that we need to control. Our aim is to win matches and win all the competitions we take part in. Obviously, if we had an opponent closer to us in the league table, we might be a little more prepared and the players would prepare themselves more spontaneously. In any case, you have to be a little more motivated. We can do it very well. We're the most consistent team in the league. But now we've got the last third of the season coming up and we need to perform well in all competitions. There are a lot of good tests coming up. It's going to be very difficult on Sunday, and this match will help us prepare for the matches that follow."
TURN OVER
"My aim is to have twenty-two first-team players. I know it's impossible, but that's my goal. I want to have two players per position: "If I know I'm not playing for two matches, the other one will play, and if he plays well, I have to get back up to my level". When a player isn't playing, he can give up. But above all, he has to fight. You need competition, rivalry. That's essential, and that's what I try to generate in all my teams. Our objective is a collective one, so that Paris Saint-Germain fans can see a team that fights."
WARREN ZAÏRE-EMERY
"I'm not going to talk about his technical, physical or personal abilities, but rather I'm going to talk about his ability to play in relation to what his teammates need. For us, that's vital because we occupy a series of spaces on the pitch and those spaces change. I've never seen a player like Warren who is so intelligent at compensating for what his team-mates are doing. As a coach, that's priceless and something that hardly anyone sees. I'm very happy that Warren is now a reality. I hope he has that hunger for many years to come because he's a vital player for us."