Eliminated by Paris FC in the Coupe de France despite dominating the match, PSG coach Luis Enrique was frustrated by the scoreline but satisfied with his team’s performance. Speaking after the game, the Spaniard insisted his side deserved to win.
How do you explain what happened tonight? Fatigue? Complacency?
“The result is unfair, in my opinion, but we have to accept it.
This match is very easy to analyze. It was a very complete performance and we played very well. We created many chances, we did the job, we dominated the match. There is no problem with the way we played.
But football is a sport where you have to score goals. They scored one, and we didn’t. That’s football.
I am very happy with what I saw, with how the team played both collectively and individually. The result is unfair for me, but we have to accept it. I wish Paris FC all the best in the competition.”
Is this loss a warning sign for the rest of the season, losing your first domestic trophy since arriving at PSG?
“If you only look at the result, maybe.
But if you look at the match, we were clearly superior. That’s football — it’s not always fair. You have to know how to lose, and in this case, for me, it’s a very strange result.”
On the positive side, does this help lighten the schedule and allow the team to recover physically and mentally?
“If I had to lose a match or a competition, I would like to lose it this way.
There are many positive things every day, and you have to look at them that way. Of course, this wasn’t our objective — we like this competition — but we have to accept it.
If I had to lose, I would choose to lose like this.”
PSG are double holders of the Coupe de France. Is this a setback for the start of the year?
“I repeat: what matters to me is what I saw from my players, individually and as a team.
I’m sure that when I rewatch the match tomorrow, that feeling will be even stronger. I’m very calm about my team — and about our supporters as well.”
You always defend your players. What can be improved after this match?
“Better than tonight will be difficult.
We dominated the first half and the second half. But in football, you have to score goals — that’s what needs to improve.
The performance itself was of a very high level.”
Could this defeat fuel a rivalry between PSG and Paris FC in the coming seasons?
“Not especially.”