“These are trap matches”: Enrique’s warning before PSG’s trip to Brest

We know Luis Enrique has no taste for discussions with the media. This Saturday, before the trip to Brittany, the Spanish technician did arrive at the press conference with a big smile and a few teasing words to point out that the day before the Ligue 1 matches, fewer and fewer people were asking questions. More than usually. , the Parisian coach took the time to detail his answers and, in particular, to discuss why the meeting with Brest this Sunday at 13:00 especially resembles a trap.

After a Champions League match, you play away against a team that has not lost at home since the start of the season at a certain time. Does this look like a trap?

LUIS ENRIQUE. These are all trap matches, but mostly because of the weird, unusual scheduling. We never played at 1:00 p.m. We play away, and it is always difficult because there are opposing fans. In this match, all the conditions are created for not playing well and not concentrating. We will try to avoid this. This is a team that has not lost at home and therefore defends very well. They make a lot of crosses and they are a very difficult team for us. Especially when we come out of a match that really motivated us, like we did in the Champions League.

Since your arrival you have explained that you do not need to motivate your players for Champions League matches, big L1 posters or international matches. For a less prestigious match, such as the match against Brest on Sunday at 13:00, how are you going to motivate them?

This is our difficulty. This is similar to the situation of coaching a team with 20 national team players. There is no doubt about it. Three points against Marseille or a top-ranked team are the same as against a lower-ranked team. I try to make do with the best possible lineup, players who are best prepared for the game. I saw the field, it will be like an English stadium with stands located close to the field. The schedule is unusual, but we must be able to overcome it.

What did you think of Wednesday night’s recording? Kang-In Lee ?

The return of a player is always good news. We have high hopes for him. We know his level very well. In addition to his individual qualities, he does not lose balls. He is a player with very good physical qualities and I believe he can give us a lot. He can play in different positions: right or left winger, inside, center or false nine. This is very interesting to me. This versatility is worth noting.

After looking at the stats a bit, we realized that Gonçalo Ramos, when he plays, is involved a lot in the game, but his header is not used much. Is this what you expect from him?

We ask him for what you see from him. We need him to come in support to leave space for his teammates to attack from deep when we are making quick attacks and there is a lot of space. He moves very well. We are not a team that will make a lot of crosses because of the type of attack we run. Perhaps that’s why we don’t see Goncalo’s best qualities. But I have to say that the two strikers I have, Gonçalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani, are top players and do an amazing job in attack and defense. But other players can play in this position: Asensio, Barcola, Lee Kang-In… I have a lot of choice, and that’s a joy!