“(the journalist slips that Luis Enrique cannot say that the two are as much because “it would be too easy”) It’s a question with conditions, I can’t say what I want, what do you want I say ? (smile) The only match that exists is tomorrow (Sunday).”
“The absence of Bradley Barcola? I can’t talk about duration, I leave that in the hands of the doctors and the player. It’s private, it’s personal. But I believe that after this international break, almost all the players are available. We will give the list of those who are called up for the match tomorrow (Sunday). They are all almost in optimal condition. For elements like Presnel Kimpembe, we still have to see what the ideal timing is for them to return. We are in a period where titles are being played out. There are certain times in the season where you can choose what’s best for the player, but right now it’s what’s best for the team that’s most important. Competitions are what they are and you have to win everything. The interest of the team comes before personal interests. But in terms of what I saw in training yesterday (Friday), it was pretty spectacular in terms of pace for everyone. They are all likely to come in, I like that.”
“For me, it’s the ideal situation: a player is injured, he goes out, and another who is theoretically not in the starting 11 comes in and wins the matches, so much the better. I want there to always be the greatest competitiveness in training, for everyone to bring something extra for the team. The situation is therefore perfect, I know it well, I have experienced it often, and I manage it individually, according to the merit of each person, what I consider to be best for the team.
“A football team must have different options and take advantage of all its characteristics. It depends on the type of match, the opponent’s defense. Sometimes it is better to make crosses, crosses or long shots. We work on different types of attack. But the players are very good at this aspect of the game (shots outside the area, Editor’s note). Players like Vitinha, Kang-in Lee, Kylian Mbappé, even Marco Asensio, Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos are capable of doing it. We don’t necessarily insist on it but over the course of the week, we approached different game situations that we want to see during the match. As for these long-range goals, it depends on the quality of the players, some are capable, others not.
“Possible to do without Mbappé for such a match? Everything is possible in life. What I am aware of, however, and I have been here for a few months now, is the importance of the Classic in the eyes of our supporters, for the club. It’s a historic rivalry. My goal is that everything goes well, that there is a spectacle, that we see a great football match between two very good teams. Our goal is obviously to win against our eternal rival and get closer to the championship title. But as a coach, I have to see this match but also have a vision of what is best for us, that’s my job. I have to make decisions based on what I think is best for the team. This of course means that some will disagree. But we will go to Marseille to be competitive. Our goal is to give great joy to our supporters.”
“It’s a subject on which all the coaches and selectors agree, the calendars are very intense. I’m not going to be hypocritical, I wasn’t as Spain coach. Health is important for players. Injuries are part of the game but the schedules, the travel, the pressure, it’s sometimes difficult to cope with it all. I believe this is a theme that we must control for the future and the present so that the players put on the best show possible. Football is a spectacle. The more rested they are, the better the performance. It’s beneficial for everyone, the clubs, the players, the coaches… A better calendar wouldn’t bother anyone…”
“Everything is possible ! You know me now, why not! If there’s one thing I stress a lot to my players, it’s that their job as a professional is to be ready. If they have the chance to play, great, otherwise, they can help the team from the bench, the stands, in training, that’s their goal and their obligation. The rest is a reward. I want everyone to be ready. Maybe the players who played the most during the season won’t play the most important game of the year. The important thing is that everyone is ready.”
“I always saw football as a spectacle, like going to the cinema or the theater. We don’t calculate, any more outside than at home. It can lead to more or less good results, but our goal is to put on a very good show and try to play attacking football. The goal is always the same, at home or away. There are necessarily nuances but I am proud of that as a coach, my speech does not change: my message does not change, there is no need to read between the lines for the players, we never aim for no, it doesn’t exist in my lexicon. It’s a philosophy that appeals to me, and I believe that it also appeals to the players.”
“I’m not talking about players who are not at PSG. But I liked that the Real fans applauded a Barcelona player, a 16-year-old player. I really like it.”
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“I have a very different opinion than the journalists throughout the season, and that makes sense. At the beginning, it is always difficult for players to assimilate ideas, individually or collectively. But I’m very happy with what I’ve seen for several months, it’s what I wanted to see. I feel like everyone has been able to help the team so far, obviously some have more weight than others, but everyone can do it at important moments. It’s positive. The credit goes to the players, but we (the staff) have a part of the responsibility because for the players to feel important, we have to give them playing time. And not poor quality playing time, real minutes. . We have worked like this since the start of the season and it will be the same for the rest of the campaign. I hope we can keep these options until the end of the season.
“To analyze the team, this physical question is conditioned by a long season, with ups and downs in this area. Physical preparation is important. In any case, I don’t worry at all about the physical state of the players, they are well prepared, I have the guarantee of having a team capable of achieving the best performances. More generally for the end of the season, it depends on success at a specific moment. The line between victory and defeat is thin in the competitions that remain to be played.
“I am not the owner of the players. They have a contract with the club. I won the Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona with Spain. Obviously, it will be strange on my part (to refuse)… Each case must be studied individually. It’s difficult to do the Euro and the Olympics, it doesn’t make much sense knowing that the players have responsibilities towards their club. There is also the freedom of the player which comes into play. In this case, I am quite open, but we must protect the interests of the club.
“I saw France-Germany but not France-Chile. But in any case, I turn off the sound when I watch a match. I thought the audience applauded them (smile).”
Comments collected at a press conference
