Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique has said his team, which is second in the league, has “no problem” with moving the match against league leaders Lyon from Sunday to Monday. The change was requested by the Paris police, amid a wave of violent protests that have swept the French capital. Police are also busy organising the first regular-season NFL game in France, where the Pittsburgh Steelers will face the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday.
“If we play on Monday, it is better given the current situation. I accept it with great pleasure. You have to remember that Sunday is a special day, there is an American football game, plus the current situation,” Luis Enrique said at a press conference. Lyon currently sit above PSG on goal difference, but with the top six teams separated by just one point, both could fall outside the top three by Monday. The match will kick off at 20:30 Paris time (19:30 GMT), just minutes before the “Ballon d’Or” ceremony in London ends with the announcement of the best male player.
PSG has a record 10 nominees, led by reigning winner Ousmane Dembele and world champion Fabian Ruiz. However, Luis Enrique stressed that this does not matter at all. “I remain focused on the match,” he said. “Many of our players could win the Ballon d’Or. We will see who takes it home, but that will not change anything about what we are trying to achieve as a team.” Sources close to the club noted that rescheduling the match will inevitably affect the Parisian delegation attending the awards ceremony.
PSG lost three players to injury in their Champions League win over Barcelona on Wednesday. Dembele and Marquinhos suffered hip injuries, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will undergo knee surgery and will be out for a longer period. The coach said the Georgian “will come back stronger” because “he is a fighter”. Enrique added: “It is hard to stay positive after news like this. It is a risk that comes with being a professional player.”
Despite the challenges, Enrique stressed that it will be “business as usual”. “I don’t want to change anything from what I have done, but at the same time, I want to change everything. That is what you have to do to remain unpredictable,” he said. He added that he does not plan to make any new signings during the winter transfer window. “We will not be relieved. We are a family. We have two or three injured players, but this is part of competition at the highest level.”
Taken from France 24 Live News