Luis Enrique keeps his rotation plans under wraps ahead of Strasbourg

“Rotations for Barça? The important thing is to beat Strasbourg,” Luis Enrique said, without revealing whether he would make changes to his team. On the eve of Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to Strasbourg, the coach chose to focus on that match rather than the upcoming meeting with Barça.

Asked about his selection, the Spaniard declined to give anything away. “I wouldn’t like to explain anything. Every time we pick the team, we think about the short, medium and long term. The important thing is to beat Strasbourg, then prepare for the next match in the best way and try to win every game.”

The match, scheduled for 17:15, is part of matchday 7 in Ligue 1. It comes before the game against Barça next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, billed as a contest for the lead in the Champions League. Luis Enrique’s side come into it after a 4-2 win over City. In Ligue 1, they are sixth, three points behind leaders Monaco.

The coach described Strasbourg as a serious opponent. “It will be difficult. Strasbourg are a very young team with a lot of quality. They will want to show what they can do against us. We travelled, and we will travel again tomorrow. We want to win and be among the top three in the standings. We are in a good moment, we are happy and we want to keep it that way.”

On the criticism surrounding PSG, he pointed to the noise around the club. “Before I arrived, I heard that this club would never win the Champions League because of the level of the competition. Then, when you win, people find excuses and complain. That’s life; we accept it.”

Luis Enrique also underlined the adaptability and commitment he expects from his players. “It is my responsibility to give them the confidence to do that. You have to know how to adapt to what happens during a match. If I had to highlight one thing, it would be the players’ ability to be aggressive and brave all the time, especially away from home. This team’s main characteristic is never being afraid,” he said.

Finally, asked whether Luis Enrique’s style can be learned, he replied: “It’s very easy: you have to run like crazy. It does not depend on age, but on your technical quality and mentality. The key is to be ready to attack and defend.”