Luis Enrique values Hakimi’s consistency over his hat-trick against Le Havre

After Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-1 victory over Le Havre on Friday evening in the ninth round of the French championship, Luis Enrique praised Achraf Hakimi’s performance. The Moroccan scored three goals and provided two assists in the match. But the Paris coach said the most impressive aspect was not simply the hat-trick: he emphasized Hakimi’s ability to maintain a high level and remain ready to help the team.

The praise came after a match in which Le Havre entered the round in difficulty. The club sat 18th in Ligue 1 with 2 points after nine matches. Its league record stood at two draws and seven defeats, with no wins, 9 goals scored and 20 conceded. It had also lost its previous five Ligue 1 matches.

After the game, Enrique called Hakimi a leader and said he knew the player’s qualities and ability to move forward and create chances. “He is closer to a striker, and when we have the ball, he plays in advanced areas; but when we lose it, everyone becomes a defender. He is the best right-back in the world,” the coach said.

Hakimi, for his part, did not describe the evening as the best of his career, despite scoring his first professional hat-trick. He called it a wonderful night, while noting that he had played other matches that had made a greater impact on him and moved him more. He also said he had fully recovered from the injury he suffered last season and felt in excellent physical condition. The player explained that he had been familiar with an attacking role since childhood, while recognizing the defensive duties of a full-back.

On absences caused by injuries, Hakimi stressed that responsibility was collective: in his view, they require every player to do more, not just him. He described Paris Saint-Germain as a complete team.