After his side lost to Monaco in the league match, Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique stated publicly that the team needed to make immediate psychological and mental adjustments.
“When there are problems, they are often problems of the mind. It’s a strange feeling, built up by many factors. You can’t buy confidence at Monoprix,” Enrique said after the match.
With just a few days to go until the first leg of the Champions League tie against Chelsea, Enrique is continuing the management approach he has used at PSG: boosting team morale through group and individual conversations. While his managerial principles are uncompromising, he first offers full reassurance to players and staff, which allows everyone to be completely honest with each other.
According to local media in Paris, before entering a more tactical preparation phase starting next Monday (players will continue to rest this Sunday), the PSG coaching staff will focus on implementing “psychological quick fixes” for the squad.
Young midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery will be one of Enrique’s main focuses. The French international, who turns 20 this Sunday, has proven in the past that he can recover quickly from setbacks. In the recent league match against Monaco, his midfield mistakes directly led to two PSG goals conceded. He may be feeling down at the moment, but Enrique will find a way to help him regain confidence.
One example of Enrique using “psychological therapy” to restore a player’s confidence is forward Randal Kolo Muani, who was criticized by Ousmane Dembélé but then scored a brace in the first leg of the Champions League to put PSG in control. When Désiré Doué was in a slump, Enrique consistently backed him in press conferences and public interviews, praising him as “strong and talented”.
