Luis Enrique: "We're ready"
Ahead of his side’s UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg against Real Sociedad de Fútbol, which kicks off at 21:00 CET tomorrow at the Parc des Princes, the Paris Saint-Germain manager answered questions from the media earlier today.
ON REAL SOCIEDAD
"It's very simple; we'll need to rob them of the ball as soon as possible and then try not to lose it. Real Sociedad are among the teams that have conceded the fewest goals so far in the competition. They don't make things easy for their opponents, and they press aggressively. They're one of the best teams in the competition, having made it out of a group that had one of last season's finalists in it, and they obviously play at a very high standard. Are we the favourites or the underdogs? We'll need to answer that on the pitch."
ON IMANOL ALGUACIL
"Imanol is a great manager. He's at home there and has an interesting philosophy. Real Sociedad's academy produces countless players, and the club does sensible transfer business. They were also playing well before Imanol came in, as a lot of good managers have worked there. I'd like to congratulate them and hope that they won't play so well tomorrow!"
ON MANAGING THE SQUAD
"It's not about protecting my players but about getting through an elite competition in the best way possible. We're at a point where we're playing the biggest games – the ones that we've been waiting for since the start of the season – and the best way of approaching them is to be calm."
ON SQUAD ROTATION
"Every player knows that they can come into this team and start. As the manager, that's my aim. I need everyone to know that they're important and that they can help the team, be it on the pitch or off it. Having to choose between them is a handicap, but the dynamic within the squad is positive."
ON KYLIAN MBAPPÉ
"I think that when a team has a player of Kylian Mbappé's calibre, they need to understand that the more he plays, the better it is for them. He could've played four days ago, but it was an unnecessary risk. He's now available for selection."
ON THE TEAM'S PROGRESS
"Journalists really like percentages, but the problem is that they don't exist. You can play one game at 100% and then another at 20%. We've been on a learning process for the last few months, and we feel as though we're ready. We've created an atmosphere with the fans, and the Champions League is a different kind of competition, where you need to be better than your opponents over two legs. I can guarantee you that the team is ready and that all of the players are committed."
ON THE MIDFIELD
"I think that in a team sport and particularly in football, thinking that a single line will help you to win is a mistake. When we have the ball, we've got 11 strikers, and when we don't have the ball, we've got 11 defenders. You can see that with my team, and it guarantees that we have the right mindset to go out and win."