PARIS — Luis Enrique spent 12 minutes with reporters before PSG's delayed Ligue 1 match against Nantes and left little doubt about the assignment. The Paris coach said the clear objective was to win on Wednesday in the 26e journée meeting at the Parc des Princes, and he said PSG would decide that day which lineup gave them the best chance.
“On a clear objective: trying to win the match. Tomorrow, we will decide which will be the best composition for that,” he said, adding that a brief exchange was enough because talking “fatigues” him. The tone matched the stakes for a squad still trying to manage bodies and minutes while the season tightens.
Vitinha remains a concern after hurting his right heel in the loss to Lyon on April 14, and Enrique said he did not know when the midfielder would be back. Nuno Mendes is also among the injured players, while Lucas Beraldo has been used in midfield because he had no opening at center back. Enrique said Beraldo has technical quality, is strong and has pleased him in those matches.
The coach also said Fabian Ruiz played 20 minutes against Lyon and that Ibrahim Mbaye is ready, even though Mbaye was not in the squad for that game. He framed the decision-making around the team rather than any single player, saying PSG won competitions with players who trained well and stayed in a good state of mind, and that the same approach would apply next year.
That broader plan sits against a crowded end to the season. Enrique said two league matches remain after Nantes, including Angers on Saturday, and PSG must also turn toward the first leg of its Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich on April 28. He said it would have been “ridiculous” to sign many players, an answer that underscored how much the club is asking from the group already in place.
Nantes, Enrique warned, is not the kind of opponent to treat lightly. “If you think it will be easy, forget it,” he said. “Tomorrow, it will be difficult, very difficult. If you are waiting for an easy match where you can eat popcorn and drink cola, forget it. Nantes has quality players. If you are waiting for an easy match, forget it.” He added that matches against teams in difficulty are often the hardest ones, and said every minute played for PSG has to be special. In that mood, Wednesday looks less like a routine rescheduled fixture than a test of whether PSG can keep its focus while the calendar turns toward Bayern.
