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Luis Enrique held a press convention this Monday forward of the Champions League match between Bayer Leverkusen and .

The Spanish coach got here to the protection of Lucas Chevalier, who has been closely criticized for the reason that begin of the season, and took the chance to take a jab on the press.

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Luis Enrique additionally mentioned the return of Ousmane Dembélé and praised Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes. Under are his full remarks, as reported by our outlet.

IMAGO / Vitalii Kliuiev

You could have the prospect tomorrow to realize three wins in three Champions League matches when you win. Ought to this competitors be prioritized to safe qualification as quickly as doable?

“What we’re on the lookout for is a little bit of the identical as final yr: to get as many factors as doable. Our group could be very tough and that’s our goal. Tomorrow will likely be take a look at for each groups and we’re comfortable to have received the 2 earlier matches, however tomorrow will likely be a special recreation.”

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Ousmane Dembélé is returning to the squad. What adjustments now that you could lastly rely in your Ballon d’Or winner?

“You might be very preoccupied with the Ballon d’Or. It is Ousmane Dembélé, it is not the Ballon d’Or. He is identical individual, the identical participant. He’s a special participant. We’re very comfortable to have Ousmane Dembélé again, but additionally Marquinhos or Désiré Doué since final week. It’s at all times essential for the group, for the coach, for the gamers, to have the ability to flip round and have that choice. This adjustments nothing as a result of we have to understand how they really feel in as we speak’s coaching and tomorrow we’ll see.”

Fabian Ruiz and João Neves are absent. What precisely have they got and have they suffered a relapse?

“I do not know. We’ll see the medical report. The very first thing they have to overcome is the medical report. And when the docs and the gamers believe, that is mirrored within the group. That second has not but arrived and we should wait. However we now have excellent information with the return of many gamers, three this week, and we’re ready for the remainder of the gamers.”

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Pacho arrived greater than a yr in the past. Do you know him when he performed for Frankfurt and what impressed you instantly about his recreation and persona?

“We signed Pacho as a result of we knew him. That’s the reason we work quite a bit within the sporting course and within the workers. We’re comfortable when there are gamers like Pacho, who arrive and carry out from the primary matches. That could be very good and it is not the norm. I feel he’s very younger and he can enhance many issues. He’s very sturdy in defensive conditions as a result of he would not must commit fouls to get well the ball. We’re comfortable, although he can nonetheless enhance many issues. He has the mentality a participant must be decisive. We’re comfortable, however we need to proceed on this path all collectively.”

You discuss gamers who carry out instantly like Willian Pacho. Relating to Lucas Chevalier, what’s your view on the beginning of his journey at PSG? Do you communicate with him? It is not straightforward to reach at a European champion membership, with totally different stress. What’s your view on his beginnings?

“Nothing. It is the identical yearly. I’m very proud of Lucas Chevalier. For me, he is likely one of the greatest choices or the best choice. I’m very comfortable along with his performances and once we signal a participant, we expect long-term. He has persona, he reveals it each day in coaching and in matches. You do not bear in mind for what number of years you criticized Gigio Donnarumma. I bear in mind completely. For the final 4 years, you ‘killed’ Gigio Donnarumma sportingly. Please… I wasn’t the PSG coach and I noticed that you simply criticized Gianluigi Donnarumma on a regular basis. If you find yourself a goalkeeper for a membership like PSG, you need to study to stay with that. What I can say about Lucas Chevalier is that I like his persona, his stage as a participant. We’re very assured that he’s going to be crucial for the group for a few years. That’s the confidence we now have in our participant. The essential factor is what I see from his performances and for me that’s sufficient.”

IMAGO / Vitalii Kliuiev

Your final Champions League journey to Barcelona made an impression on individuals. What did that match change internally? Did you are feeling that some gamers gained confidence? Was it an essential second on this begin of the season?

“In fact. Clearly it is the proper phrase: confidence. Many younger gamers gained confidence. They performed an essential match and confirmed they’ve high quality. For me, this begin to the season has been very totally different, very tough, as a result of we overcame difficulties that we usually should not have to beat. However we confirmed resilience, confidence. Tomorrow is a vital match for each groups, however particularly for us, PSG, as a result of in our group, the quicker we will win factors, the higher. We’ll look to play as ordinary, not over-plan and take into consideration profitable the match, look to need to win it. Will probably be tough.”

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You could have undoubtedly studied this Leverkusen group, which is much less flashy on paper than Barça. What have you ever recognized about this Leverkusen group?

“It’s tough to evaluate Leverkusen. They signed 20 new gamers they usually additionally modified coaches. Within the matches we now have watched, maybe there are issues we will assess to anticipate how the match will likely be. It’s a group that finds it straightforward to attain targets, they’ve high quality, they usually may defend very deep, press. It is like each away match and likewise at residence, you need to look forward to what the opponent will do. They’ll do every part and you need to know how you can handle the match as ordinary, however we’re used to it. We’re calm, we’re prepared, and we now have to do the final coaching as we speak to see the situation of our gamers after which play the match tomorrow.”

How has Nuno Mendes turn out to be a formidable weapon to your group this season and what are nonetheless his areas for development?

“Nuno… You all know his qualities, he’s a special participant. He’s a defender but additionally an attacker, he can play in all positions. It’s good for me to attempt to handle the taking part in time of the worldwide gamers who’ve many matches to play. Nuno is in that second, like Hakimi, Vitinha. They’re crucial gamers that have to be managed to allow them to arrive on the essential moments of the season in the most effective situation.”

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The psychological side is essential at PSG. How does Joaquin Valdes concretely assist you to day by day?

“We have now expertise. We have now labored collectively for a few years, in truth he’s the one one who has labored with me all through my complete teaching profession. It’s straightforward for us as a result of we all know completely effectively the ups and downs {that a} group, the gamers and likewise the workers can have throughout a season. We’re used to dwelling with that. Expertise is essential on the earth of soccer, like the flexibility to investigate many issues. That’s the reason we now have a psychologist on the workers. It’s not ordinary in soccer, however I feel it has been among the best issues for me as a coach.”