Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) manager Luis Enrique attended the pre-match press conference ahead of the Intercontinental Cup clash against Flamengo.
On Flamengo
“They are a very tough opponent. In this context, it will be a difficult match. It’s a final, and we must stay focused.”
On being the first French club to play in the Intercontinental Cup
“I didn’t know that statistic before. I think opportunities to participate in such major competitions are rare. We fully understand the importance of this match, and it’s fantastic to be here. It means a lot to us. We’re delighted to be present.”
On PSG’s hopes for the 2025 final
"Making history in Paris last season was our goal. Continuing to make history this season is also our aim. A final is a special game. Every action can decide the outcome. We need to be motivated for this match. We are ready.
At the start of the league season, we showed the same mentality as we have throughout the season. Flamengo are a strong team, so the game will be tough."
On Marquinhos
“He missed today’s training, but he’s ready. We’ll assess his condition after training. Tomorrow we’ll decide whether he can start the game.”
On when PSG’s early-season fatigue will end
"Who knows? It’s unpredictable. Over the past four months, we’ve shown the ability to overcome such difficulties. I can’t guarantee the fixture schedule.
But rest and family vacations have been beneficial for us. We need to make good use of this time before 2026, as crucial moments in various competitions are approaching."
On this being Flamengo’s season finale
"The situation is different—they’ve just won many trophies and are at a critical moment. I like their style of play; they excel at possession. If you remember their performance in the Club World Cup.
We knew the difficulty of this match beforehand, and we hope to be fully prepared for tomorrow’s game."
On Brazilians’ love for the Intercontinental Cup and the trophy’s importance to PSG
"It’s hard to accurately assess the value of this trophy. When you lose, you say it’s not important. But we have the chance to write PSG’s history.
Today, it’s equally important for Flamengo and us. We want to continue shaping the club’s history. This is a huge motivation for us and the club, and I don’t think our opponents will be more motivated than us."
On his views on South American football and Dembélé winning the Ballon d’Or
"He deserves it, but it wasn’t my choice. Ten years ago, I participated in the Intercontinental Cup as a coach. Now we’ll see who is better between PSG and Flamengo.
They are an excellent team; they beat Chelsea in the Club World Cup this summer. [...] No one doubts the quality of South American players.
No one questions their history. Playing against Brazilian clubs is never easy. We know the final will be decided by small details. We’re eager to compete in this final."
On comparing Luis Felipe’s Flamengo to Botafogo
“Botafogo play very defensively with a compact formation. Flamengo are different—they are very good at keeping possession. [...] I think this will be an exciting final, with similar styles of play from both teams. I expect a fantastic game.”
On the atmosphere at the Qatar stadium
“I remember the last time the national team participated in the World Cup here. We were very happy here. We’ll try our best to perform at our highest level in the final, and we know Flamengo are a very strong team.”
On Achraf
“Achraf is injured and will not be available. He’s in recovery and definitely won’t play this Wednesday.”
On Luis Felipe
"I’ve known him before, and now he’s at Flamengo. He’s doing an excellent job. I’m looking forward to facing them on the pitch this Wednesday. Wish him all the best—except when playing against PSG."
On his previous comment about not wanting to face Flamengo
"I said I didn’t want to play against Flamengo. But I don’t know FC Pyramids, so I can’t comment on them. Now what I know is that Flamengo have reached the final."
