Paris Saint-Germain’s defence of its Ligue 1 title is already proving a challenge and it has also lost one of its two Champions League games, but manager Luis Enrique is content with his side’s early season form.
PSG is unbeaten in the league, but drawing two out of seven games has allowed AS Monaco to take a two-point lead at the top of the standings, and Luis Enrique’s side was also outclassed in its 2-0 defeat by Arsenal.
The manager, who would not comment on media reports that he has extended his contract at PSG until there is official confirmation from the club, remained upbeat as his side prepare for Saturday’s home game with Strasbourg.
“The start of the season in general has been very positive, even more positive than I imagined,” Luis Enrique said at a press conference on Friday.
“Throughout the season, it is not a linear process, there are better moments and less good moments. We haven’t had any bad spells yet. We would like to win every game but that is not possible in football,” he added.
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The Strasbourg game comes after an international break where many of PSG’s players were in action, and the manager accepts this will be a factor in the match.
“We have to bear in mind playing time with international teams, travel time, and fatigue. So, of course, that is going to have an effect on the team on the pitch tomorrow. We need to win tomorrow but it will not be easy. It is never easy to come back after the international break,” Luis Enrique said.
The international break can also have its positive side. One player who has struggled at PSG this season but shone for his country is forward Randal Kolo Muani, who scored both goals in France’s 2-1 win in Belgium on Monday.
“That is certainly good news for me as a coach, to see our international players getting good results, produce strong performances, scoring goals, defending well. The better they play for their national teams, the better for me,” Luis Enrique said.
Strasbourg is seventh in the standings, seven points behind PSG, but it has lost only once this season, and Luis Enrique expects a tough but open game.
“They score goals, they press high, they are dangerous, they are not worried about one-on-one situations. It will certainly be really difficult, well contested and I think both teams will have chances,” the Spaniard said.
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