Enrique: 'Anyone can start at PSG'

France Before the match against Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, coach Luis Enrique emphasized rotating the squad and wanted PSG players to be ready to start.

"Every PSG player must know that they can start," Enrique said at a pre-match press conference at the Parc des Princes. "As a coach, that is my goal. I need players to know that they are important and can help the team, whether they are starting or subbing. Having to choose between them is a disadvantage, but in return, the team is always flexible, ready for any situation."

Coach Enrique at a press conference before the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 between PSG and Sociedad. Photo: psg.fr

The players with the most appearances for PSG in all competitions this season are Kylian Mbappe and Vitinha with 29 matches each. They are followed by Lucas Hernandez (27), Gianluigi Donnarumma, Warren Zaire-Emery (26), Ousmane Dembele (25) and Manuel Ugarte, Goncalo Ramos, Marquinhos, Randal Kolo Muani (24).

Those who played the least were defender Layvin Kurzawa with 8 minutes on the field, along with two 17-year-old players Senny Mayulu and Ethan Mbappe - the younger brother of striker Kylian Mbappe.

Kylian Mbappe himself was on the bench when PSG hosted Lille in round 21 of Ligue 1 last weekend, making it his third time on the bench for PSG in the tournament. In this match, Enrique started Kolo Muani in the left-sided position of the attack that belonged to Mbappe. Despite a difficult start, and conceding in the 6th minute, PSG still won 3-1 with Kolo Muani scoring the decisive goal.

According to Enrique, Mbappe injured his ankle in the 3-1 win over Brest in the 1/8 round of the French Cup a few days earlier, so he did not want to take any risks when playing Lille. And the Spanish coach was pleased because the reality showed that the other players were still able to take on the role of the French superstar, helping PSG take all three points.

Striker Kylian Mbappe (center) sits on the bench during PSG's 3-1 comeback win over Lille in round 21 of Ligue 1 at Parc des Princes, Paris on February 10. Photo: AFP

"When you have a player like Mbappe, of course we know that the more he plays the better, because everyone benefits," Enrique added. "Mbappe could have played last weekend, if it was a final. But it wasn't, so it's not worth the risk. Mbappe is ready to play tomorrow."

Earlier this month, Le Parisien reported that Mbappe was willing to give up an $86 million loyalty bonus to move to Real on a free transfer in the summer of 2024. When asked about the possibility of this being Mbappe's last match at the Parc de Princes in the Champions League, Enrique replied: "This is not how I feel, and therefore, I don't feel happy or sad. Neither does Mbappe."

Sociedad have not been doing well domestically, currently seventh in La Liga, 11 points behind fourth-placed Atletico. But in the Champions League, the Spanish side have gone unbeaten in the group stage to take the top spot, ahead of Inter Milan.

Hong Duy

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