Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has brushed aside any concerns regarding his side’s recent form after they dropped points for the first time last weekend, labeling their setback as “part of the logical process” of growth, Soccernet.football reports.
After a scintillating start to the season where they won all three of their opening matches while scoring a whooping 13 goals, PSG have had to put in more grind to get results from their recent games.
Since the international break, Les Parisiens were forced to rally from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Lille, before needing a last-minute own goal to get past Champions League debutants Girona in their European campaign opener.
Enrique’s side then dropped their first points of the Ligue 1 season with a 1-1 draw against Reims last weekend, but the Spaniard is focusing on the positives from his players’ recent performances.
“I feel things differently,” he told reporters when asked if there had been a decline in his side’s performances, as per The Star.
“Over the course of a season, there’s an evolution; there are good moments and not so good moments, it’s part of the logical process of the team growing.
“I find the opposite situation. I think the team has managed to solve the problems that the opponents have caused us.”
The French champions, who lead the way in Ligue 1 ahead of Olympique Marseille and AS Monaco on goals difference, will be welcoming Rennes to the Parcs des Princes on Friday.
“They’re a team that plays at the top of the table, they caused us quite a few problems last season,” Luis Enrique said of Julien Stephan’s side, who held the reigning champions to a 1-1 draw in February.
“They took points against us, and they’ll vary their behaviour as the game goes on. They did it last season.
“There are no easy games, there will be problems, but I’m an optimistic person when it comes to games like this. We’re playing at the Parc and that spurs us on, too.
“Rennes are used to high pressing, but I don’t think they’ll do that tomorrow because they’re an adaptable team. My job is to cope and find solutions. It’s very difficult to fight a low block.”