PSG: “Perfect relationship” with Mbappé, Real Sociedad, positive results… Luis Enrique’s point before Metz

Paris Saint-Germain's areas of progress: “When I said that I think the team will be much stronger in February, it was a real thought and a hope, that over the months we continue to progress and improve important aspects of the game. If I'm wrong, I will be heavily criticized, but I'm used to criticism and ultimately, I'm happy with it, it's my role as a coach, it's my point of view . I see that the team is progressing game after game, some things are already very well done, but that's my goal. There is one game left to conclude this year. I would like us to be able to offer a victory to our supporters to have a good vacation with family, to enjoy the holidays and for us to come back stronger in January.

Regular changes in the starting 11: “I change a lot because I have a lot of very good players. I manage my squad by giving all the players their opportunity, they still have to deserve their chance, but I give my confidence to all the players because we need everyone to be competitive in several competitions. throughout the season, not just 11 or 12 players. I've always worked like this since I started as a coach: I prefer to rotate and give confidence to all the players. In all cases, there are always the same solutions on the ground.”

Real Sociedad in the Champions League round of 16: “I'm happy with the draw because I really wanted to return to Spain. This is the best possible way… There were four Spanish teams in the draw. We hoped to return to Spain and see our loved ones. Afterwards, we knew it would be a top team. We know Real Sociedad very well, many players were in the national team with me, we know their coach, the supporters and the city, one of the most beautiful in Spain. That's very good news. Obviously, we know it will be hard, they finished first ahead of Inter, the reigning European vice-champion. They play very good football and they have clear ideas, so it will be difficult.

Ousmane Dembélé and the injured: “I have no more to tell you than what is in the medical press release.”

Assessment: “We are still only at the beginning of our journey as staff, a new stage for the club with many new players recruited this summer, a new training center… I am more than satisfied with the first part of the season, results. Having such a difficult group in C1 was an advantage for us. We have good results in the league, even if it wasn't so good at the start. From now on, we are first in the standings and this is the place we will want to occupy all season. So that's good, but it's only the beginning. The hardest part remains to be done, with the option of fighting for all titles, in all competitions. We have to see what will happen.”

The animation seen against Lille, with a reinforced midfielder: “I won't tell you what we will do against Metz so as not to give any indication to their coach but I liked what we did. One of our goals is to be unpredictable for opponents, but predictable for us, without generating doubt or disruption for our players. This is what we do match after match. I like to change things up a little, to get players out of their comfort zone, to play different positions and play well. It was positive in Lille, except for the result and the last 10 minutes…”

His relationship with Kylian Mbappé: “As always, a perfect relationship! We're not engaged or in a relationship, but almost, and it's mainly because he doesn't want to (smile). I don't know why you ask me about this so regularly. I am very close to all my players. We have always been very close with Kylian. He makes jokes, he always has a smile, and I'm someone who likes to laugh too. We have a very good relationship, I am delighted with it, and not only with Kylian, with other players too, even if those who play less are less happy.

His view on Mbappé, who will turn 25 on Wednesday: “25 years old, he is super young, it’s my son’s age… I hope he will have as much success individually as collectively. I hope it will be here at PSG, that we will help him develop in his career. His level is fantastic. Now that I have the opportunity to know him as a person, it's a chance to have a player like him in my squad. And his statistics are impressive… He is at the top of world football.”

FC Metz: “It will be a very difficult match against a team which holds the ball much less than Lille and will be very low or low and withdrawn. We will have to see how to attack the spaces, how to take the depth according to the spaces that will be offered. You will have to be very precise, very subtle to find the right spaces and exploit them. These are difficulties that must be overcome and it would be very important for confidence to win and offer a good end of year evening to our supporters.

Kang-in Lee: “He's a player who is perhaps a little unknown for those who didn't follow La Liga or in South Korea, where he is a superstar, we saw him this summer... It's a very important player who played right or left winger, in the middle, on the track, false 9... He has top technical abilities and defensive abilities, he sacrifices himself for the team. It's great to have such a young player with so much quality. Plus, he’s nice, funny… He has it all.”

Comments collected at a press conference