Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique on Friday said he needs all his players prepared as he intends to shuffle his squad for Saturday’s Ligue 1 match at Angers to find a way through a packed fixture schedule.
PSG’s disappointing Champions League campaign continued on Wednesday when it slumped to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat by La Liga’s Atletico Madrid at the Parc des Princes, leaving the Parisian side in the elimination zone.
However, it is still top of the Ligue 1 standings with 26 points from 10 matches, six points ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille.
Angers, sits in 15th place with 10 points.
“The most important match is tomorrow...,” Luis Enrique told reporters. “Tomorrow, we’ll rotate.
“I feel that with so little rest I need players. Angers are a highly motivated opponent who play at home... they can defend well and create problems in transition thanks to their wingers. I need all the players ready.”
PSG will be without Ecuadorian centre back Willian Pacho. The 23-year-old travelled to Ecuador on Thursday to re-join his national team and did not participate in Friday’s training session, the club said.
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Luis Enrique said while there has been a “blockage in finishing”, he was relishing the challenge as it seeks to bounce back from the Atletico loss.
PSG has scored three goals in four matches in the Champions League, but it tops the scoring charts in Ligue 1 with 29 goals this season.
“After a match like Wednesday’s, and I’ve been through others in my career, it’s difficult. Emotions are going to absorb everything. The result will make you see everything in a negative light,” the Spanish coach said.
“How am I feeling? Perfectly. The more difficult it is, the better. We’re aware that there’s a blockage in the finishing. There’s no denying it, it’s a general problem. We need to overcome that, through confidence, by trying to create clearer chances, and collectively.
“I know it’s a medium to long term project, and there will be ups and downs.”
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