The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) team is still bitter about their elimination in the French Cup by Marseille last season, but the new PSG coach knows that extreme motivation can be a double-edged sword for his team on Sunday evening at the Parc des Princes.
On February 8th, in a fiery Velodrome stadium, Marseille knocked PSG out of the eighth round of the French Cup with a score of 2-1. That night, PSG supporters clearly wanted coach Christophe Galtier to be sacked, as his gestures during one of Marseille’s goals had intrigued them. Marseille’s subsequent elimination by Annecy had softened the blow for Paris, but everyone was anticipating the reunion between the two old rivals of French football. It is on Sunday, at the Parc des Princes, that Luis Enrique’s team will try to make Marseille pay for this act of disrespect.
This match motivates both teams, and even more so the supporters, although Marseille fans are still banned from traveling, just like PSG fans will be banned for the return match in 2023. It is precisely an excess of motivation that the new PSG coach fears before this French classic.
On the eve of the PSG-OM match, part of the 6th round of Ligue 1, Luis Enrique wanted to bring some calm and serenity around this highly anticipated fixture. “Since day one, we know which matches motivate the players, the staff, and the supporters. PSG-OM is one of them. We prepare for this match in the same way, but we pay attention to the emotional aspect. We must be an intense team, but we must not exaggerate, as it can be dangerous,” warned Luis Enrique in a press conference. Having experienced the famous Spanish version of this meeting, he wants to avoid the extreme motivation against Marseille from not leading to a victory.
Personally, the PSG coach will face Azzedine Ounahi, whom he had praised extensively after Spain’s elimination, under his leadership, by Morocco (0-0, 3-0 penalty shootout). It’s a reunion that he doesn’t fear too much. “Morocco defended very well, and Ounahi was one of those players who defended very well. Hakimi was also there, and he still mocks me about it. It’s the aspect of football that we like,” admitted the Spanish coach, not really seeking revenge, although he could.
