Luis Enrique: "It's a very positive time for the players"
ON STRASBOURG
'It's always difficult to play away from home, especially against this kind of team. I think that we're getting motivated at the best possible time in the season and that everyone at Paris Saint-Germain is experiencing this as something special. I think that it's a very positive time for the players who can play on Saturday; we've shown that throughout the season.
Advertisement
'In this type of game, small details can make the difference, and we're going to try to make that difference. Our end to the season is very unusual because we want to do well in tomorrow's game, which will be a test to help us be ready in the other competitions.'
ON DÉSIRÉ DOUÉ AND BRADLEY BARCOLA
'Over the course of a season, it's important that the players improve and give a lot to the team. The players need to get better both individually and collectively. That improvement comes with ups and downs, and they're young players. It's not that Bradley isn't as good or that Désiré is better; the important thing for me is that they both be ready to help the team.'
ON THE TEAM'S MOTIVATION
'Every minute of every game is important. That's what it's like when you play for Paris Saint-Germain. We'll do what we've done so far with the same idea as ever; nothing has changed. The most important thing is for every minute that the players spend playing for Paris Saint-Germain to be useful for our games in the other competitions.'
ON THE LIGUE 1 FAMILY
'I think that 90% of Ligue 1 teams are a family. We spend a lot of time together, and we share both good and bad times. We [Paris] aren't really that different to the other teams in the league in terms of how we experience matches.'
THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL
--
Access all Paris Saint-Germain news on PSG.FR and PSG Official app.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Upturn
40 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Chelsea vs. PSG: Club World Cup final preview, team updates, predictions and possible lineups
By Aman Shukla Published on July 13, 2025, 09:47 IST Alright, football fans, buckle up! The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final is about to light up MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Sunday, July 13, and it's a mouthwatering clash between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Two European heavyweights, one shiny trophy, and a whole lot of pride on the line. Chelsea are gunning to make history as the first English club to win this thing twice, while PSG are chasing their first-ever Club World Cup crown to cap off a jaw-dropping season. Match Preview This isn't just another game—it's the final of the revamped 32-team Club World Cup, and both teams have fought tooth and nail to get here. Chelsea, led by Enzo Maresca, have been on a roll. They cruised past Fluminense 2-0 in the semi-finals, thanks to new boy João Pedro bagging a brace. The Blues have been building momentum all season, fresh off their UEFA Conference League win and locking in a Champions League spot for next year. They're underdogs, sure, but Chelsea have a knack for pulling off miracles when the stakes are high. Then there's PSG, who've been an absolute wrecking ball. Luis Enrique's squad has bulldozed their way through the tournament, smashing Real Madrid 4-0 in the semis and brushing aside Bayern Munich 2-0 in the quarters. Their only slip-up was a group-stage loss to Botafogo, but since then, they've been unstoppable, conceding just one goal all tournament. With a treble already in the bag (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League), PSG are the team to beat, and they know it. These two have history, too. They've met eight times before, with PSG edging out Chelsea three wins to two, and three draws. Their last clash was in the 2015-16 Champions League, where PSG knocked Chelsea out 4-2 on aggregate. But finals are a different beast, and Chelsea's never-say-die attitude could make this a proper scrap. Team Updates Chelsea Good news for Chelsea fans: Levi Colwill and Liam Delap are back after serving suspensions. Colwill should slot right into defense alongside Trevoh Chalobah, giving the backline some extra steel. Moises Caicedo's ankle is still a worry, but he's pushing to start. Roméo Lavia and Dario Essugo are touch-and-go with muscle niggles, and Benoit Badiashile's fitness is up in the air. There's also talk of Noni Madueke possibly heading to Arsenal, which might mean he sits this one out. On the bright side, Reece James is back from injury and could reclaim his right-back spot. PSG PSG are missing defenders Lucas Hernández and Willian Pacho, who are still banned after picking up red cards against Bayern. Lucas Beraldo's been solid stepping in, though, and didn't break a sweat against Real Madrid. Ousmane Dembélé's shaken off any fitness doubts and looks ready to wreak havoc. Luis Enrique's got no new injuries to worry about, so expect his midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz to run the show. Possible Lineups Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Goalkeeper : Robert Sánchez Defenders : Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella Midfielders : Moises Caicedo (if fit), Enzo Fernández Attacking Midfielders : Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku Forward: João Pedro PSG (4-3-3) Goalkeeper : Gianluigi Donnarumma Defenders : Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes Midfielders : Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha, João Neves Forwards: Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Prediction: Who Will Win? Look, PSG are the favorites, and it's not hard to see why. The stats gurus give them a 64.4% chance of winning, and after demolishing Real Madrid and Bayern, they look like a team on a mission. Their attack is electric, their defense is watertight, and they've got that big-game mentality. But don't count Chelsea out. They've got a history of upsetting the odds in finals, and with João Pedro firing and Cole Palmer pulling strings, they could nick something. Still, PSG's depth and form are hard to ignore. We reckon they'll come out swinging and take control early. Chelsea might grab a goal to keep things spicy, but PSG's firepower should see them through. Our Call: Chelsea 1-3 PSG Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Club World Cup final guide: Will Chelsea or PSG be crowned the best on Earth?
After almost a month of the inaugural 32-team version of the Club World Cup, just two of those sides are still standing. Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, a few miles outside New York City, later on Sunday, with this final being a showdown between two of the champions from this year's three European club competitions. Advertisement Chelsea have continued their momentum after triumphing in the third-tier Conference League, with coach Enzo Maresca able to maintain consistent positive results despite plenty of rotation in personnel. Meanwhile, Luis Enrique's Champions League-winning PSG have been on another level during their challenge in the United States, conceding just one goal across six games in the competition so far, and swatting aside the might of both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the previous two rounds en route to this match. GO DEEPER It is now blindingly obvious that PSG are the world's best football team Interestingly, these clubs have not faced each other in a competitive match since PSG dispatched Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in a two-leg Champions League last-16 tie in the 2015-16 season. So, how might things go in New Jersey today? Through our data and tactical lens, allow The Athletic to walk you through some key themes that might be crucial in the final… As so many of Europe's elite sides have found out, going toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain can be something of a fruitless task. Luis Enrique's side are set up for nearly every scenario their opponents can throw at them, with the capacity to play with slow, considered possession or launch a direct, transitional attack. What you can always guarantee is that the current French and European champions will look to hurt you in wide areas. The players filling those spaces can be a rotating cast — from any one of their fluid front line, to an overlapping or underlapping full-back, or a supporting midfielder. Mapping PSG's attacking touches across the pitch, such a low share in the middle third highlights just how often they look to work the ball into those channels on the flanks. When you have players to call upon with the trickery and speed that Luis Enrique can, it is hardly a surprise that this pattern emerges. 'We live in a world of passing, but the common thing with PSG is they are all dribblers,' long-time Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said at a FIFA technical study group event this week. 'They can go one v one, and then make the pass. (Ousmane) Dembele, (Bradley) Barcola, (Desire) Doue, they all go at you first. They are not scared of you. That's very interesting to see from a dominant team.' Advertisement The numbers back up what the eyes see. Yes, PSG are in the final so have played more matches than almost all the other clubs involved but no player in the tournament has attempted more take-ons than Doue (41), closely followed by team-mates Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (34) and Barcola (22). At any level, raw pace and skill break defences — PSG simply have more of both than most. For Maresca's side, the blueprint may be to utilise Botafogo's approach — the Brazilians beat a heavily-rotated PSG 1-0 in their second group-stage game — in sitting in more of a compact defensive block for long periods before selectively choosing moments to spring forward. Chelsea's aggressive, organised high pressing worked excellently in their semi-final victory over Fluminense, but the margins for error will be far narrower against a side of PSG's quality — which leads us to the next point… PSG love to switch the ball from one side of the pitch to the other… a lot. Again, they have played more games than nearly every other team in this tournament, but their 57 switches of play attempted is comfortably the most at this Club World Cup, and a clear tactical weapon they employ. With the amount of possession they have, many of PSG's switches are often made to circulate the ball during build-up, but when they are up against an organised defensive block, these long passes are very intentional within their attacking approach. By having close combinations on one flank with triangles and diamonds, they will overload one side of the pitch to isolate a player on the other wing. It is a hallmark of an elite team, and Luis Enrique's men execute it to perfection. An example can be seen below in the round of 16 against Inter Miami, with Nuno Mendes making the switch to Barcola on the far side after combining on the left — with right-back Achraf Hakimi gesturing for his team-mate to play a pass over to the opposite flank. With supporting runs from team-mates upon making the switch, it then allows PSG to expose the space that's been opened up before crossing into a dangerous area. A neat example can be seen in the semis against Madrid, with Kvaratskhelia switching to Hakimi. By the time the opposition have shuffled across, Dembele's run makes it a two-v-one against exposed left-back Fran Garcia. In what are expected to be scorching conditions at MetLife Stadium, Chelsea will need to stay compact defensively and be prepared to move across the pitch quickly to shut down any spaces that PSG will certainly look to exploit. Injuries and suspensions have been a factor at times during their Club World Cup campaign, but Maresca has not been shy in shuffling his pack when naming a starting XI — with 27 different Chelsea players taking to the field over their six games so far in the United States, the most of any side in the tournament. Advertisement A key decision the Italian has to make today is who he names as his No 9. Nicolas Jackson might have fallen down the pecking order since the end of the European season, but with Liam Delap back from suspension and fellow new signing Joao Pedro hitting the ground running in a Chelsea shirt, there is a selection dilemma that Maresca will be pleased to face. GO DEEPER Rotation: The key word of Chelsea's long summer at the Club World Cup Elsewhere, his choice of full-backs might be revealing in terms of where he wants his players to push onto the last line of attack. Throughout the tournament — and the 2024-25 season overall — Chelsea have varied their build-up shapes to influence their attacking rhythm. For example, we know by now that Marc Cucurella can play as an auxiliary forward at times, with his inclination to arrive in the final third, meaning Reece James is often the one to tuck in from right-back to form Chelsea's back-three build-up structure. However, if Malo Gusto is named the team later, you would expect to see Cucurella tucking in as part of that build-up shape, while the 22-year-old France international pushes on to occupy Chelsea's right half-space. With the threat PSG pose in wide areas, Maresca will need to decide which full-back, if any, pushes forward into that attacking line. Given PSG full-backs Hakimi and Mendes often occupy the half-spaces themselves, it might be likely that Chelsea are pinned back into a defensive structure for long periods anyway, but choosing which player has a higher starting position when the Londoners do have the ball will be interesting. While Chelsea might be wise not to go pressing high against PSG's fluid rotational build-up, they might have to make the most of any transitional moments when they do regain possession. In an ideal world, Maresca would prefer Chelsea to engage in a considered, methodical approach when they have the ball. However, his side have been successful in springing forward at speed in this competition, and would be better served embracing a transitional game if the spaces open up for them today. Advertisement You only have to look as far as Joao Pedro's second goal in the semi-final against Fluminense as an example of those moments, but no side has registered more direct attacks — a proxy of counter-attacking play — than Chelsea's 19 across the competition. Their six goals from fast breaks are also double their nearest competitor. If inspiration is needed, Bayern Munich might be a good case study in how to maximise those transitional sequences against PSG. In their quarter-final, it was purposeful, direct forward passing that led to the French side's press being broken — as shown below, where Harry Kane's sharp turn finds Kingsley Coman running through on goal. If the final does open up, PSG have got the players who can exploit the space in transitional moments in the blink of an eye. Therefore, Chelsea will need to be similarly brave by throwing bodies forward when the opportunity arises — they have their own pace in wide areas that can be utilised in such moments when PSG's attacks break down. Here we can turn to The Athletic's match prediction model. This uses per-shot expected goals to create an attacking and defensive rating for each team, before employing a data model to simulate upcoming games. Unsurprisingly, the model has Luis Enrique's side as the overwhelming favourites, with a 64 per cent chance of victory before extra time, compared with just 16 per cent for Chelsea. Judging by this model, Chelsea have a greater chance of staying in the game and taking it to those additional 30 minutes — 19 per cent probability of a draw — than winning it outright in the regulation 90. More specifically, The Athletic's model predicts that a 2-1 PSG victory will be the most likely scoreline — but given their recent thumpings of Inter (5-0 in the Champions League final) and Madrid (4-0 in the semis here), the men from Paris have shown they are happy to tear up the script. It promises to be a compelling tactical match-up, with one team leaving the United States with the coveted title of world champions. (Top photos: Getty Images; design: Demetrius Robinson)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
AC Milan Can Only Offer €6M-per-Year Wage to PSG, Tottenham Target Amid Man Utd Talks
Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović is once again drawing attention in the transfer market this summer, with PSG, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Aston Villa all reportedly interested in the Serbian forward. The Serie A side appear ready to part ways with Vlahović, who is under contract until 2026 but commands a high salary that the club may be eager to move off the books. PSG, meanwhile, are open to offloading Randal Kolo Muani, and there's increasing speculation that Gonçalo Ramos could also be available. Advertisement According to a previous report from CaughtOffside, PSG began tracking Vlahović earlier this year. Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be in the race as well, potentially setting up a bidding war. While Vlahović still has a year left on his deal after this season, Juventus could look to sell now rather than risk losing him for free in 2026. Will AC Milan lose out on PSG transfer target?AC Milan are keeping an eye on Vlahović's situation at Juventus, according to Calciomercato. The striker's contract runs until 2026, but he reportedly wants to see it out and leave on a free transfer — something Juventus are eager to prevent. Advertisement While Vlahović could be open to an early exit, he's asking for a €10 million severance package to be split with his entourage, as he stands to earn €12 million next season if he stays. Milan, however, are only prepared to offer a €6 million salary. This month, CaughtOffside reported that Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest are all considering a potential move for Vlahović this summer. Moreover, the report says Manchester United have started talks with Juventus about including Jadon Sancho in a potential deal for Vlahović. It could be a move that works for everyone—Juventus have been longtime admirers of Sancho, and he's available to leave Old Trafford this summer.