Luis Enrique: "I'm seeing the team grow" | OneFootball

The Paris Saint-Germain manager answered questions from PSG TV and from the media ahead of his side’s game against RC Lens, which kicks off at 17:00 CET tomorrow at the Parc des Princes.

ON LENS

'The players' mindset is perfect, but we need to stay focused on the next game because it'll be a difficult one. Lens are a dangerous team that hasn't lost any of its last six away games. I'm expecting an aggressive side that will press high without the ball. They have a top coach – there are nothing but top coaches in this league – and we'll be coming up against a very good team of technical staff.'

ON willian pacho'S PROGRESS

'The stats don't lie; he's obviously one of the players that has played the most. We were aware that he would be a very important player when he signed here. He helps us in a lot of areas where we need it: winning duels, passing out from the back, being efficient... He wins the ball a lot and is highly efficient in his area of the pitch, so he's a very positive addition for the club.'

ON THE COMPETITION WITHIN THE SQUAD

'I rely on all of my players, without exception. I trust what I see in games but also in training; with me, a player that isn't playing regularly can absolutely turn things around with how he trains. The atmosphere is very good, and there was a similar situation last year. The people that have come in this year are contributing a lot in every aspect.'

ON THE TEAM'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

'My aim with the team is always the same; I try to make sure that those who are already contributing a lot contribute even more and that those who are only contributing a little can help the team at any point in a game. We need to score more goals, to concede fewer, to ask more from the goalkeeper, to ask more from the defenders... We should never settle for what we've got. We're scoring an average of three goals per game, and the numbers are exceptional. I'm seeing the team grow through this project.

'Today, I spoke to the midfielders. I hope that they score a lot of goals. If someone's level drops, someone else comes in. It's the same for the strikers and for the defenders. When you reach that level of performance, it helps to raise the level of the team.'

ON Achraf Hakimi'S PERFORMANCES

'Of all the players that I've worked with, I've never met a better right-back than him. He's got enormous potential and room for improvement, and he's getting there. He's getting to know himself as a player but also as a man, and despite his young age, he's hugely experienced. We want him to be a role model both on and off the pitch, and I think that he's on the right track in that respect. I'm seeing him improve; he's even better than he was last year.'

ON PARIS'S TECHNICAL STAFF

'I'm the face that you see, but there's an excellent team of highly prepared technical staff, too. We've got strategies for what we want to work on tactically and physically. There are a lot of games, so you always need to check the levels of those who aren't playing quite as much. As a manager, I'm always trying to change up training sessions and in-game situations in order to take the players and the team out of their comfort zone.'

ON THE SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS AFTER THE FLOODS IN SPAIN

'I think that the world of football sticks together more and more each day. This club has a foundation that works directly with people in need. In this case, we're talking about a tragedy that's affecting not only a country but also human beings. We share a lot of solidarity with the Valencian Community; they're in our thoughts. I don't know whether a minute's silence would be important, but what I think is very important is to provide economic aid and, above all, support to the families of those who have passed away. I think that all of those gestures are positive. It's really nice to feel as though the world of football is united in helping.'

ON THE PLAYERS' VERSATILITY

'We're able, thanks to the players that we have, to continually switch their positions, be it on the inside or on the outside. As a team of technical staff, our aim has always been to put the players in their best positions. Sometimes, that's on the outside, and sometimes, it's a more central position, which is interesting because it brings the player closer to the goal. The players can change positions depending on what the other team is doing. I have faith in my players' attitude in every situation and in every game. What we're looking to do is to be unpredictable for our opponents but predictable for ourselves. I think that that's an area where the team is improving, and I think that the fact that we're scoring so many goals probably comes from that mobility and that versatility.'

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