On Wednesday evening, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faces Atalanta Bergame at the Parc des Princes as part of the Champions League, a match that Atalanta coach Ivan Juric is waiting with interest and respect for his Spanish counterpart, Luis Enrique. Juric admires Enrique’s ability to drive Paris to the top of European football. For his part, Marten de Roon, middle of Atalanta, recognizes the difficulty of the event but stresses the need for his team to show immense courage to resist the attacks of the PSG. The PSG, for its part, addresses this meeting with the desire to defend its title, as Luis Enrique said, while facing challenges in terms of team composition.

The PSG has to deal with major absences, notably in attack with Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé. However, Kang-In Lee’s situation improved considerably after an initial anxiety following an ankle injury. The Korean offensive media has resumed training and could even be available for the match against Atalanta, thus offering an additional solution to Luis Enrique. Lucas Beraldo’s injury, also to the ankle, was a source of concern, but the MRI finally ruled out any serious injury, requiring only sprain. Although he will miss the next two major games, his condition is not expected to impact his long-term season.

Captain Marquinhos emphasizes the crucial importance of the mind in the preparation of the PSG under the direction of Luis Enrique. He points out that the Spanish coach goes beyond the tactical and physical aspects, working on the team’s attitude and resilience. Enrique insists on the future and the need not to rest on his past laurels, but rather to continue to progress. This approach, which includes specific exercises to forge discipline and the ability to overcome moments of tension, is according to Marquinhos which distinguishes the most Luis Enrique. The challenge for Paris is to maintain this motivation after a historic success and to prove that he is able to defend his crown with a hard-pressed mental strength.