Luis Enrique reiterated Paris Saint‑Germain's priority before the big individual prize, focusing on the next match against Lyon. In the press conference on 24 October, the Spanish coach declared that he was not worried about the Ballon d'Or, underlining that the team must focus on the result of Monday evening's match against Paulo Fonseca's team. "I remain focused on the game. If we play on Monday and this is the best solution compared to the current situation, I will gladly accept it," he said, adding that Sunday, dedicated to the NFL, does not represent a problem for his schedule.
For Luis Enrique, PSG's focus remains on collective value. "We have shown what kind of team we are. We have a lot of chances to win it, we'll see who can do it, but this won't change anything about who we are as a group," he explained, highlighting that several of the club's players can aspire to the title. The coach then highlighted the importance of reaching the top of Ligue 1, recalling that Lyon occupied first place before the eighth matchday. "In the championship we have shown that we can improve our results. Three or four weeks ago we were very far from the top and already on Monday, by winning the three points, we could find ourselves ahead of everyone," he added.
The match against Lyon takes on an emotional value for PSG, who were defeated at the Parc des Princes in the previous season. "For us it is important to get to the top as soon as possible. Facing Paulo Fonseca's team represents a motivation. Let's remember that they beat us at the Parc des Princes last season," observed Luis Enrique, underlining the desire for revenge.
A central point of the conference was the role of Désiré Doué, called to replace the injured Kvaratskhelia and Dembélé. When asked if the young Frenchman should take on more responsibility, the coach responded firmly. "You want the players to do different things! Luckily Doué is intelligent: he has to do what he normally does, giving his all," he said. He then clarified that it is not necessary for Doué to “demonstrate anything special”; his job is simply to do what he does when the other players are there too. "It's a mistake to think that he has to prove more. He doesn't have to show anything special, but simply do what he does when the other players are there too," he concluded, reiterating his desire not to overload the young talent.
With Monday's match upon us, PSG are aiming to consolidate their position at the top of Ligue 1 as Luis Enrique keeps his cool on the Ballon d'Or, letting the result on the pitch speak for itself. The next match against Lyon will be decisive for the title race, and the Parisian club is ready to demonstrate their collective strength.