Khaberni - Spanish Luis Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League title holder in soccer, downplayed on Monday the "hype" and any talk of disputes within the locker room, as the European champion prepares to put his continental title at stake this week against local rival Monaco.
Paris Saint-Germain struggles to regain the stunning form they showed in the second half of last season, when they played enchanting football on their way to winning the Champions League for the first time in their history.
The capital club fell from the top of the French League at the end of last week after losing away to Rennes, allowing Lens to snatch the first place.
This came after a tough start to 2026 which saw them getting knocked out of the French Cup by their neighbor Paris FC and ending up eleventh in the unified group stage of the Champions League, where three winless European matches led to their position in this playoff for a spot in the round of sixteen.
Following the defeat to Rennes, last season's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé criticized his teammates, considering that many were no longer playing for the group.
Dembélé said in a television interview after the match: We need to play for Paris Saint-Germain if we want to win matches because if each of us only plays for himself, it won't work and we won't capture the titles we want. Last season we put the club first before ourselves, and I think we need to think that way again.
When Luis Enrique was asked about these statements upon his arrival in Monaco on Monday, on the eve of the Champions League playoff against the principality's team, he said: There is always noise around Paris Saint-Germain, and we simply have to accept it.
He added: Certainly, we would have preferred to reach this match after a victory, but now it's Champions League time and everyone is motivated.
