Luis Enrique was at a press convention this Tuesday on the eve of the PSG/Flamengo Intercontinental Cup remaining. The Spanish coach insisted on the significance of this match towards an opponent he extremely values and likewise gave information of his captain Marquinhos. Listed below are his phrases in full transcribed and translated by us.
You’ll be able to develop into the primary French membership to win this trophy and the third membership in historical past to attain a sextuplet. Are you conscious of with the ability to make the historical past of your sport tomorrow night?
“I didn’t know. I feel there are few events the place you possibly can play on this remaining and we’re conscious of the significance of this match. It is nice to play the intercontinental remaining, it means lots to us and we’re blissful to be right here. »
A yr in the past, we did not but know in the event you had been going to get out of the group stage of the Champions League. A yr later, you’re within the remaining of the Intercontinental Cup. How do you see the trajectory and what level within the season do you are feeling like you’re at in the present day?
“We’re blissful to have this chance as a result of it’s at all times tough to play on this intercontinental remaining”
“A yr in the past, we had been on the journey, on the trail, to get to this second. And there are reminiscences from this final season which might be very optimistic. I feel it was necessary to beat what we had over the past yr. And in the intervening time, I am pondering extra about continuity. This season is a continuation of what we’ve seen lately. And it’s occurring, it’s time to play this remaining. As we mentioned, it is necessary for us as a group, as a membership and for our supporters. We’re blissful to have this chance as a result of, I repeat, it’s at all times tough to play on this intercontinental remaining. »
That is your fourth worldwide remaining in 2025. Do you continue to really feel the identical adrenaline? Is it a specific scent within the hours previous these occasions? And does the actual fact of getting performed a number of earlier than provide you with extra means to grasp the occasion?
“Flamengo are an excellent group and will probably be an in depth remaining”
“I feel it’s a really clear motivation. Making historical past in Paris was a objective final season. And persevering with to make historical past is the objective of this season. Every remaining is totally different. These are particular matches as a result of you must be prepared and attentive all through the match. All actions may be necessary and decisive within the remaining and having this management, having the proper motivation for the match, it can be crucial and we’re prepared. I feel that firstly of the championship, we had issues. The group confirmed that mentality they confirmed final yr. Tomorrow will probably be tough as a result of Flamengo are an excellent group and will probably be a decent remaining. »
Are you able to give us a fast replace on the state of the troops, notably Marquinhos who’s getting back from damage? From what he has already proven you over the previous couple of days, do you assume he’s able to beginning tomorrow’s match?
“He is lacking observe in the present day, however he is prepared. After coaching, we’ll see what his situation is. Tomorrow, we’ll resolve whether or not he will probably be there from the beginning of the match or not. »
We’re on the finish of 2025. Do you will have the sensation that your group has lastly come out of this intense interval, of intense fatigue that it has skilled for the reason that begin of the season with many accidents? It feels such as you get nearly everybody again apart from Hakimi. Are the tough occasions over now?
“It’s not possible to know that!” What we’ve proven in these final 4 months is our means to beat totally different conditions. And after this calendar (the top of 2025), I can not assure something however we’re blissful to see Christmas, the vacations arrive, and to have this time to get pleasure from with the household. For the beginning of 2026, allow us to have the entire group collectively and allow us to reap the benefits of that as a result of, in all competitions, the necessary second arrives. »
In his press convention, Filipe Luis, earlier, spoke about the truth that Flamengo is on the finish of the season, since will probably be their final match tomorrow. You might be midway by means of the season. Does it change something in your preparation for the match, to face a group which is basically reaching the top of the season, with stuffed with confidence, whereas you’re on the Christmas break quickly?
“Sure, it’s totally different. After all, they arrive after having gained quite a lot of trophies, they’re in an excellent second. I like the way in which they play soccer with the ball and with out the ball. It’s a really properly ready group and you may see it. I keep in mind final summer time, after they performed the Membership World Cup, and we noticed some very attention-grabbing matches. They’ve a really attention-grabbing and really tough group (to play). We knew the issue earlier than the match and we’ll attempt to be prepared tomorrow. »
In Brazil and South America, this trophy has quite a lot of worth, though the Europeans have at all times gained it since 2013. For PSG, who’ve by no means gained it, is it a vital, necessary trophy? The place do you find it?
“I don’t assume they are going to be extra motivated than us”
“It’s very tough to worth the place of this trophy. What is definite is that when you’re in a giant membership and also you lose, individuals will at all times say that it was necessary. Once you win, it relies upon… So it is necessary as a result of it is the primary time in historical past that we are able to play this remaining. Usually, European golf equipment at all times used to win it as a result of there was a distinction (in stage) throughout these matches. However in the present day this match is essential for Flamengo, crucial for us. So the place ought to we place this trophy… We’ve been attempting to proceed on the identical path for a very long time and write the historical past of our membership. It might be historic to win the primary (Intercontinental Cup). It is already an ideal motivation for us, for the membership, and in that sense, I do not assume they are going to be extra motivated than us. »
You had the chance to face three groups from the American continent final summer time. Often, European groups are favorites. Do you assume the hole has narrowed between European groups and groups from the American continent? One other query, Dembélé might win The Finest trophy this night. Is that this a subject of debate throughout the group and do you assume it deserves it?
“We should present our greatest model”
“Sure, unquestionably. However since I am not the one awarding the trophies, it does not actually matter. Since final summer time, you will have been very involved about this stage problem between the Europeans and the others, however that does not actually have a lot significance both for my part, if under no circumstances. However I repeat, normally, it’s the European groups that win. I used to be capable of play one ten years in the past (Barça beat River Plate 3-0, editor’s be aware). Will the winner of the ultimate essentially be a greater group than their opponent? No. In a match, something can occur. Once I see Flamengo, I see a really excessive stage, high stage group, they demonstrated it final summer time. They performed and beat Chelsea. They performed towards Bayern Munich and had been capable of win all the match. Tomorrow, their skilled gamers will present all this expertise they’ve acquired in Europe. Everyone knows that every time there’s a promising participant from South America, Central America, North America, he involves Europe. And from there, I do not assume it is crucial. No one doubts the extent of South American gamers. Nobody doubts their historic high quality. And enjoying a remaining towards a Brazilian group isn’t excellent news. And it’s clear that we’re going to have to indicate our greatest model. One group finishes its season, the opposite is midway by means of, however in the long run, it is the little particulars that rely in a remaining. I repeat, our goal is to provide 100% and to have the need and the hope of profitable this remaining. »
An extended query is requested in Arabic about Achraf Hakimi and the journalist is clearly unaware of the Moroccan’s absence.
“Hakimi is injured, he can’t play. He’s recovering in the intervening time. Tomorrow he’s not going to play. »
I needed to know if the defeat towards Flamengo in the US final summer time had influenced the way in which you approached tomorrow’s remaining towards Flamengo? I think about you’ve got been finding out Flamengo these previous few days. What’s the massive distinction between Flamengo and Botafogo when it comes to play in your opinion?
“Flamengo doesn’t play towards Botafogo”
“We performed towards Botafogo, who performed locked in their very own half and solely defended. And that is usually the type of match we’re used to enjoying, towards groups who defend low and assault little. However Flamengo does not play like that. Flamengo is a group that, with the ball, performs excellent soccer, is aware of the best way to convey the ball out from the again. With out the ball, they press very properly. It is a very attention-grabbing group, bodily very sturdy. They’ve very skilled gamers, who know what it is prefer to play necessary matches. They’ve gamers with quite a lot of high quality. Tomorrow, will probably be very tough to take the ball from them. So I feel it will be an thrilling remaining as a result of the 2 groups have a really related fashion. I feel we will see a grand finale. »
A shocking MLS referee for #PSG/Flamengo https://t.co/nU3Ve35Tzc
— CulturePSG (@CulturePSG) December 16, 2025
You could have an excellent eye with younger gamers. I do not know if that is additionally the case with younger coaches. What future do you see for Filipe Luis?
” I do not know. I do not take into consideration the careers or the way forward for different coaches. What I can say about Filipe Luis is that I already knew him as a participant. He began his teaching profession a yr and a half in the past at Flamengo. He does it brilliantly. I actually like, not solely the way in which his group performs, assaults and defends, but in addition his non-verbal language on the bench. It appears very attention-grabbing to me and will probably be a pleasure to see Filipe Luis on a soccer discipline once more, this time as a coach. I do not know what the longer term holds for him, however I want him each success, besides when he faces my groups. »
The press convention ends with a query in Arabic on Luis Enrique’s latest statements about Pyramids FC. The PSG coach had declared earlier than the Flamengo/Pyramids FC match that he most well-liked to face the Egyptian membership within the remaining relatively than the Brazilian membership, which he already knew and feared.
“The reality is {that a} Brazilian tv interviewed me and I mentioned that I didn’t need to face Flamengo. I have not had the chance to research (Pyramids) past this match that we noticed. So I am unable to give an opinion on Pyramids. However I have not been excellent as a result of each time you give your opinion, there’s at all times going to be an opposing social gathering who does not prefer it. What was clear to me, nonetheless, was that I did not need to see Flamengo, a group I do know, within the remaining. That is what I answered and I can affirm it. »



























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