Monaco (AFP) - Spaniard Luis Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain, the holder of the European Champions League, on Monday downplayed the "noise" and any talk of disagreements within the locker room, while the European champion prepares to put his continental title on the line this week against Monaco, its local rival.
Published on: 02/16/2026 - 20:01
Saint-Germain is struggling to regain the amazing level it presented in the second half of last season, when it played magical football on its way to winning the Champions League for the first time in its history.
The capital club fell from the top of the French League last weekend after losing away to Rennes, which allowed Lens to snatch first place.
This came after a difficult start to the year 2026, which saw it exit from the French Cup at the hands of neighboring Paris FC and occupy eleventh place in the unified group stage of the Champions League, where three European matches without a victory led to its placement in this play-off for a pass to the eighth final.
After the defeat against Rennes, last season's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé criticized his teammates, considering that many of them no longer played for the group.
Dembele 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 plays only for himself, it will not work and we will not win the titles we want. Last season we put the club first before ourselves, and I think we need to think that way again.”
Luis Enrique was asked about these statements upon his arrival in Monaco on Monday, on the eve of the Champions League play-off match against the emirate’s team.
The Spaniard said, “There is always noise around Paris Saint-Germain and we simply have to accept it,” considering the defeat against Rennes to be “harsh” against his team.
He added, "We would certainly have preferred to reach this match after a victory, but now it is time for the Champions League and everyone is motivated."
© 2026 AFP
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