Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique is expecting a real test when his side host Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this weekend. The Spanish tactician spoke to the media ahead of the clash, reminding his players that every post-international break fixture comes with its own challenges, Softfootball reports.
The champions return to league duty on a high after a 2-0 win over Auxerre before the international break, and they’ve been boosted by the return of several key players, including Ousmane Dembélé, Desire Doué, and captain Marquinhos. With PSG looking to build momentum at the Parc des Princes, Enrique emphasized respect for their opponents while insisting his team must maintain their intensity and readiness.
Speaking to PSG media, in a posted shared via the club’s official X handle, Enrique discussed his respect for Strasbourg, the condition of his squad, and how the Parisians plan to keep dominating games despite absences
On Strasbourg, he said;
I think they’re one of the best teams in the league. They have a lot of young players and a good coach. They play good football. It will be difficult because every game after a break is difficult. And we know their level, we have to be ready to face big adversity.
On the opponent’s form, he stated;
They’ve had some very good results; it’ll be a tougher match than others. They’re tough. It’s a high-level return to action. But we’ll be ready!
On the condition of the squad after the break, he explained;
There are always surprises with international breaks. We’re waiting to see the players to see what form they’re in. And we’re analyzing situations individually. There’s training later this Thursday, and we’ll make the necessary decisions.
On dealing with injuries:
I don’t think the worst is over yet. Because you never know what can happen. We’re preparing well to handle all of this in the best possible way. We hope the number of injuries won’t be as high, but we never know.
On training and preparation:
I really see the players’ fitness levels during training. We are a staff that tries not to take any risks with the players’ health. Injuries are part of football, what we can do is work on the players’ health, improve things and avoid as many problems as possible.
On having one of the youngest squads in Europe:
We are one of the youngest teams in all the competitions, but I don’t make too much of a difference in age. All our players are professionals and work as such.
On inform striker Gonçalo Ramos, he praised him saying:
He’s a very important player for us. It doesn’t matter how much time he plays. We’re happy with him, he’s very professional, and we’re delighted with his performances. We look beyond the statistics, we have confidence in him.
On how PSG’s will approach the game, he stated:
We simply want to prepare for each match in the same way, with our philosophy. When there are absentees, we have to find solutions to be able to continue working in the same way. We have established this idea that we want to dominate matches, and we are implementing it. But opponents also know how to adapt, we have to find solutions to continue improving.
PSG’s young and talented side is steadily finding balance under Enrique this season, combining energy with tactical maturity. As they prepare to welcome Strasbourg, the coach’s message is clear, the champions will respect the challenge, but their intent is to dominate once like they are used to.
