Paris Saint-Germain are a greater group now than they have been when Kylian Mbappe was concerned, so says Luis Enrique.
PSG are surging in direction of one other Ligue 1 title, regardless of having seen Mbappe go away for Actual Madrid on the finish of final season.
Mbappe spent seven years at PSG, scoring 256 targets in 308 video games throughout all competitions, averaging a aim each 96 minutes.
Nevertheless, Luis Enrique feels PSG have improved since Mbappe’s departure.
“I used to be very courageous final season once I advised you that we might have a greater group in assault and defence,” Luis Enrique advised reporters forward of PSG’s conflict with Monaco.
“I nonetheless assume that we’re higher, the numbers are there to say it. The gamers took it as a problem. In fact, we might have appreciated to maintain Kylian, as a result of everybody liked him, however the group is responding at a spectacular stage.
“I advised you that relatively than having a participant who scores 40 targets, I needed gamers who all rating loads. Confronted with a state of affairs that we didn’t need however which occurred, the maturity of the group is excellent.”
PSG are the one unbeaten group in Europe’s high 5 leagues after 20 video games, sitting 10 factors away from Marseille and 13 above Monaco.
They beat Monaco 4-2 within the reverse fixture in December earlier than a last-gasp Ousmane Dembele aim helped them to a 1-0 win within the Trophee des Champions in January.
Luis Enrique mentioned he needed Dembele, who has netted 14 targets in Ligue 1 this time period, to change into the group’s chief.
2 – Ousmane Dembélé is the primary Paris SG participant ever to attain consecutive hat-tricks in all competitions. Rolex. pic.twitter.com/YMZJmG5Jw3
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 1, 2025
“Proper now, he’s in a completely spectacular sequence. His statistics have exploded in comparison with the start of his profession, that’s apparent,” Luis Enrique mentioned.
“He must be essential for the group, not simply scoring targets. To attain a aim, somebody has to offer you an help. What we’re in search of with Ousmane, is for him to proceed to be a figuring out participant, with assists and defensive efforts.
“Changing into a pacesetter of the group is not only about scoring targets. Being a pacesetter is one thing completely different. I consider that Ousmane, very clearly, can change into one of many leaders of the group.”
Luis Enrique added that he anticipated a sophisticated conflict in opposition to eight-time Ligue 1 champions Monaco.
“Monaco have made numerous progress with out the ball. They’re very intense,” he mentioned.
“They’re a well-constructed group that occupies the pitch effectively.
“They will trigger a lot of bother. We noticed that within the final two video games. They’re a direct competitor in Ligue 1 and will probably be one other troublesome match tomorrow.”
