Hakimi pulls no punches: Luis Enrique, targets, Ballon d'Or and accusations | OneFootball

Achraf Hakimi, the 26-year-old full-back of Paris Saint-Germain, responded to an interview by Bertrand Latour for Canal+. He reflected on his season, the importance of mental strength, his work, Morocco, and the goals for 2026, as well as coach Luis Enrique, the game plan. And he responded to the rape accusation against him.

Hakimi "I feel good"

After this long season and all these titles, have you had time to rest a bit?

Thank you for the invitation, it's a pleasure. We were able to rest a little bit, it was a bit short. If signing means that the next season will be of the same caliber, I sign now.

Was it enough or would you have liked a little more?

I feel good and during these holidays and I resumed some training to arrive in good physical shape. Mentally, that's the most important. This season is going to be very long, you have to be mentally stronger than physically.

Hakimi "I wanted to win the Champions League and write history"

What is your secret to playing so regularly and at a level worth 3?

I have no secret, there are a lot of people who work with me outside at Paris Saint-Germain, a trainer who has helped me a lot. He wanted me to be physically fit and perform in every match.

A year ago, would you have imagined that PSG would win the Champions League?

I think so, yes, it's been my goal since I came to Paris. I wanted to win the Champions League and write the history of PSG. Now we've done it and the year we recruited Luis Enrique we saw the work he did and the ideas he wanted to implement. Last year we reached the semi-finals and I knew that this year would be better because he would have had more time to work.

Hakimi "We showed character"

Was there any concern with Mbappé's departure and the arrival of many young players?

No, we knew that the most important thing was the team. As the coach said. If the team is strong we stay strong and we stayed united to continue in the same idea as last year. That's what we've shown until today.

And the difficult start to the season, was there a turning point for you at some point?

I think the match against Manchester City was the most important match of the season for us. There was an incredible comeback and it gave strength to everyone and we showed that we were capable of doing that against a team like that. I think it shows that we are capable and it changed something in our heads. We showed character.

Hakimi "He always said that even when we lose we don't change our idea"

After the start against Manchester City, did you think it could be a fiasco this season?

When I was on the field, supporters who were always with us we were stronger and it gave us strength and we told ourselves that we had to go for it, we had to attack and we had to change this match. We managed to do that.

Were there any changes in Luis Enrique during the season?

Technically, I don't think so. Even from the start of the season, I don't think the ideas have changed. In matches like that we didn't manage to score despite creating a lot of chances. We remained frustrated in front of the goal and the coach held a meeting at training and he said that we shouldn't panic.

We had to try to pass the ball to players who were better positioned, and think more about our teammates. He always said that even when we lose, we don't change our idea, keep the ball, control the match, whether we lose or win he wants us to keep the same idea. It's good, you have clear ideas.

Hakimi "He communicates a lot with the players"

Did Mbappé's departure change things technically?

No, it's continuity. We continue the first year when Kylian was there. It's just us players who know the coach's ideas better and we showed that it was easier and especially that we could do better.

Is he the best coach you've ever had?

I think he's one of the best. I've been lucky to train with great coaches, Conte, Zidane, they gave me a lot of opportunities.

What is Luis Enrique's greatest quality?

He communicates a lot with the players and when he tries to connect with the human side of the players. We train for an hour, 1h30, but we spend much more time than that together. We take the time to get to know the people and the human side of the players, but also of the coach.

Hakimi "I need to be strong on the field"

Did Luis Enrique teach you things?

Before, I didn't play inside the game. Now, he's taught me to play in different positions to be more versatile. It's thanks to him that I learned. He gives me the freedom to play and do what I like to do. I can play my game. I need to combine with my teammates, find the empty spaces and it's the confidence he's given me since he arrived so I also give him my trust. I need to be strong on the field.

What does he tell you at the defensive level?

He tells me that first and foremost, I am a defender, but he also knows that he wants to put me in attack, score goals make decisive posts. My main goal is to defend it's true that sometimes I go up to defend higher and physically I think I can make both efforts, come back quickly and it's the coach who found this balance for me. I give my maximum.

Hakimi "The Ballon d'Or, it's a dream"

Do you talk about the Ballon d'Or among yourselves? Can't you imagine that it's a player who doesn't play for PSG who won't be rewarded?

After the season we've had, we've improved our statistics, we've had a great season and if I look at all the seasons since I started playing football, I think this is my best season. The Ballon d'Or, it's a dream, I never thought about it before and when they put me in the Ballon d'Or debate and so you can start thinking a lot about it.

Hakimi "After the season I've had, historic, there aren't many players who have scored in such important moments"

Could you have imagined one day?

The truth? No. Now, I think that since I arrived, my first dream was to be a professional footballer. Then, as you grow up like you see at one point, you think about the trophy like the Ballon d'Or. When people put me in the debate, it's a dream I never thought of and if there's a chance to win, I deserve it too.

Do you talk about it among yourselves?

We don't have time to talk about that. We talk about the collective, but individual things come after. When you think about collective things, individual things come by themselves.

Do the statistics put you in value?

After the season I've had, historic, there aren't many players who have scored in such important moments, and I think that I'm an attacking midfielder, but no, I play on the line of 4 and I had to think about defending. These are not the statistics of a normal defender that I had this year.

Hakimi "That's my job, you have to earn respect. I play not to lose, I don't like to lose, even with friends"

Did you work in front?

I was young, people don't know, but I started as a striker. At 15, they changed my position and then I started playing behind you.

Why do you speak so little?

I try to stay focused on myself, on my work and my family. I don't talk much with people I don't know, I'm shy. With my friends I'm more liberated, they know how I am. We make jokes. It's easier to gain confidence.

Did you calm down this season?

That's my job, you have to earn respect. I play not to lose, I don't like to lose, even with friends.

Hakimi "When the player knows that I didn't touch him and there's a foul, I don't like it"

How do you live with injustice?

Horrible, I don't like it. Even more when I think I have the truth. When the player knows that I didn't touch him and there's a foul, I don't like it.

Is it a work you do on yourself to calm down?

Yes, but before, I was hot-blooded, now, I try to calm down. The referee also makes mistakes, it's not my problem.

How do you react to your rape accusation case?

I'm calm, it was horrible and unfair, I don't wish it on anyone because it's not good. I know that the truth will come out. I don't blame myself for anything and the people who know me know that. I'm calm and I try to focus on the most important things in my life, my family, football.

You have a strong bond with your mom?

She's one of the most important people in my life with my children, she's the one who gave me everything. She's the one who made the efforts for me to be here, to be a football player. I know the efforts she made for me. I will try to give everything on and off the field so that she is proud of me.

Hakimi "I know that conditions are not the best in Morocco"

You've created an association, is it important to give back?

Yes, it's something we've started 3 years ago, it's a goal since I have the possibility to give. I don't forget where I come from and where I come from, I know the difficulty to get where I am today and I know that conditions are not the best in Morocco.

I know that conditions are not the best in Morocco, especially for young people and we try to provide facilities so that young people can achieve their dreams. We go through sport, we try to build things so that players can access their own dream.

Hakimi "I try to go to all the selections and stay ready for all the matches"

You quickly became an international in Morocco while you could have been a Spanish international?

It's true that when I was at Real Madrid at the Academy, in Morocco they called me to be part of the Moroccan team. It's very good, it's the country of my parents and my heart told me that my place was there.

People who are in dual nationality like me, they can choose Morocco today because they see well that the country is starting to grow and tries to do like everyone else. I also thank Hervé Renard for the first selection, it's him and he told me he wanted me to be close to the selection. He gave me the opportunity to start with the pros.

Do you want to break the selection record because you already have a lot at 26?

I try to go to all the selections and stay ready for all the matches. I try to enjoy myself with the Moroccan team, there are a lot of matches coming up and we will try to be ready for all.

A way to go to the number of caps with Morocco, is to go far in the Africa Cup of Nations?

It's a dream moment for Morocco to host this CAN. It's magnificent. After, it's also my goal to do great things with Morocco and the main goal, it's to bring this cup back.

How are you going to manage the pressure? Not you, but for the other less experienced players?

I think it's a good pressure, it's a pressure we have to manage well. We have to take responsibilities and know the importance of this competition and especially that it's played in Morocco. It's a clear objective for us, especially when we play at home.

Will you be ready for the European Super Cup match?

We prepared well this summer, now, there's a week left, we're going to prepare well together and stay focused. It's a title, PSG has never won it, it will make us enter even more into the history of PSG and we're going there to win.

Hakimi "The most important thing is the mentality, physically, we're ready"

They started training while you hadn't even finished the season with your club.

The schedule is not easy, we know that. The most important thing is the mentality, physically, we're ready, but on the field, we don't need much more vacation.

Does Luis Enrique ever tell you that this match is more important than another?

Yes, with the PSG jersey, we've done great things, but we need to win every match. Everyone wants to beat us, but now, it's a title we're going to play. We're going to go there to win.

Are you the favorites for the next Champions League?

No, I don't think so, we're strong, there are a lot of players, but we, we're going to stay focused and make our way and each match, we'll think about it again.

Which team do you see that can compete with you?

Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético, City.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.