Luis Enrique: 'We're treating this game like a final'
The Paris Saint-Germain coach spoke to PSG TV ahead of Wednesday's Coupe de France quarter-final at home to OGC Nice (9:10pm).
THE Coupe de France
"The Coupe de France is a very attractive competition, just as cup competitions are in every country. They're historic competitions that lots of fans love. It's difficult, because the games are played over just 90 minutes and then it's straight to penalties. So tomorrow, we'll have to be better than Nice throughout the whole of the game."
Nice REUNION
"There's not a feeling of revenge. Our game against Nice is our only defeat of the league season, and up until a few weeks ago, they were title rivals. They're a very good team with and without the ball. Along with Brest, they have the best defensive record, and they're also the team that gives up the fewest chances. I like this team a lot, it'll be a very tough game. But tomorrow there won't be a feeling of revenge."
importance OF THE GAME
"I think it'll be an open game, because as soon as one team opens the scoring, their opponent will be provisionally eliminated from the competition, so they'll have to react. It'll be a very interesting game. One of the teams will be knocked out after the final whistle, so that means it'll be a very open and complex game. There will be high pressing and commitment from both teams. It's a match we're really looking forward to, and we're treating it like a final."
Marquinhos' ABSENCE
"It's nothing serious for Marquinhos. I could have played him against Real Sociedad, but I don't want to play a player who's not 100%, and that's the case of Marquinhos. But there's nothing serious or dangerous regarding his injury."
Ligue 1
"Ligue 1 has a very good individual level and some very good ideas put in place by the coaches. I really think it's a competitive league with a lot of very good young players, and I'm not saying that because I'm here now. It's something that I can now confirm as I've had experience of it."
THE PHYSICAL ASPECT
"I think we are one of the teams that runs the most. Nowadays, fitness coaches have a lot of modern tools. What is really important is to be able to reproduce high intensity runs. For me, the physical is also linked to the mental. Recovery, nutrition...everything is important. You have to consider all these parameters, and I think that's the way you improve."
THE repositioning OF OUSMANE DEMBELE vs. Real Sociedad
"Ousmane Dembélé is one of our best players, and I think he's one of the best players in terms of winning one-on-one situations. We know the majority of teams keep things compact in the middle of the pitch, so Ousmane usually plays out wide. But Real Sociedad were pressing well on the flanks, so I wanted to put Ousmane in the middle for that game to better exploit the space."