Luis Enrique keen on unbeaten finish as PSG clinch Ligue 1 title in dominant fashion
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Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique celebrates after winning Ligue 1 following a 1-0 triumph over Angers at the Parc des Princes on April 5.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain have shown the team do not need star power to win trophies, and with the Ligue 1 title won with six games to spare, the French champions will look to finish the season without losing, coach Luis Enrique said.
Desire Doue’s goal gave them a 1-0 win over Angers at the Parc des Princes on April 5 that sealed PSG’s fourth straight Ligue 1 title and a record-extending 13th overall.
Undefeated in 28 matches, they are close to matching Nantes’ 30-year-old unbeaten record of 32 games. Although Nantes lost once in the then 38-game season en route to the title, no French team have ever gone an entire league campaign without losing.
“Celebrating a title in early April shows that we’ve reached a very high level this season. We’ve achieved this target, but we have more games to play,” Enrique said.
“We are motivated to try and finish this season unbeaten. Nobody has done that in France before, so that’s something that we want to achieve. That would help us in the Champions League and the French Cup.”
When Kylian Mbappe left for Real Madrid in 2024, fans were sceptical of the team’s progress but the Spaniard has delivered in style.
Needing to replace Mbappe’s haul of 27 league goals last season, PSG’s forwards stepped up, with Ousmane Dembele leading the charge (21 goals) while being ably supported by Bradley Barcola (13).
Gone are the days when PSG relied on Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar for goals, with 18 different players scoring 80 goals this season – well on course to beat their tally of 81 in 34 games last season.
“I think I’m very lucky to have the profile of players with such intelligence and versatility that they are also able to attack and defend as one,” Enrique said.
Paris St Germain’s Desire Doue scores their first goal on April 5.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“When I see the team play as a collective in attack and defence, it means that when I asked for 11 players attacking and defending, it came true. It is what I have wanted for many months. I like it and the fans like it.”
Such has been PSG’s dominance that they have dropped points in only five draws while the victory over Angers stretched their winning run to nine Ligue 1 matches – a perfect record since the start of February, which gave their rivals no chance to catch up.
PSG are still in the hunt for more trophies as they face Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-finals this week, while they take on Reims in the final of the French Cup in May.
“We have the last two months ahead of us, we’re in great form. Our target is to keep fighting and to go as far as possible in the Champions League,” Enrique added. REUTERS
