Luis Enrique: "Our performances show our ability to try to win every game" | OneFootball

The Paris Saint-Germain manager answered questions from PSG TV and the media ahead of his side’s game against Montpellier Hérault SC, which kicks off at 21:00 CET tomorrow (Matchday 33 of Ligue 1) at the Parc des Princes.

ON THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

'Firstly, we're very proud of how far we've come but also of our connection with our fans. It was special, and for me, that's very important. This will be our first Champions League final with our fans; without them, it's not really a final. If there's one team that deserves to win it purely for how long they've waited for it, it's Paris Saint-Germain. I know that the club was founded in the year in which I was born. Let's hope that that connection turns out to be real and that we can win the Champions League! We're going to try to be the first ones [to win it for Paris Saint-Germain]. When it's time to celebrate, there's nothing better than giving that time to other people through our hard work, so we're going to try to finish on a high. The team and the fans deserve it; we deserve the chance to play in this final.'

ON MONTPELLIER

'Playing away from home is difficult because you can't control much, but we've performed well throughout the season, which shows our mental strength and our ability to try to win every game. We respect our opponents, and now is the time to give minutes to players that have been important for us this season but also to some young players. It's a big opportunity for them and for the team. The readier we are for the finals [of the Coupe de France and the UEFA Champions League], the better. Tomorrow is a big opportunity in terms of preparation.'

ON THE NEXT FEW GAMES

'We have a set plan that depends on our game time and our travel time during the season, and we need to balance all of that in order to go into our two finals in the best possible condition. Once the Champions League final is done, the vast majority of the players will join up with their national teams, so each player needs a personalised plan. We've managed to give them that, and we've got a few games left in which to achieve our aims. The players need to go into them feeling mentally fresh. We're playing against Montpellier and Auxerre, which will help us to follow our plan. Time off isn't the only thing that helps us to disconnect. We've got several players that we manage individually.'

ON DEVELOPING YOUNG PLAYERS

'Our squad demonstrates the club's and the coaching staff's thinking. We want to give chances to our academy graduates without a doubt, but that doesn't mean giving them handouts at one of the best teams in the world. They need to be good enough for those chances. Our academy products are lucky enough to know the language and the country, and that mix is very good. Our young players also need to be at the level that the club expects. There are some very good players that come to our training sessions, although it won't be easy for them to have careers at Paris Saint-Germain.'

ON THE DOUBTERS

'When a manager like me joins a club with a different language, it can be difficult to understand what they think, but I've been welcomed here with love since day one. I've been understood by the players, by the club and by the fans. There was criticism at the start, which is normal and which I'm used to, but we've had the mentality required to maintain our way of thinking and our credibility. We need to talk about the connection between the fans and the team, and now is the time to prepare for the finals ahead so that we can make history.'

THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL

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