OM/PSG – Luis Enrique sets the tone ahead of Le Classique

Luis Enrique: “It’s a Classic”

As the clash between Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain approaches, Luis Enrique answered questions from the media with composure. The Spaniard began by highlighting the symbolic weight of this fixture:

“I watched their match against Real Madrid. We know the importance of this meeting, for both the fans and the club. It’s a strong rivalry, and we’re happy to play this type of game. Everyone wants to be part of this kind of showdown. And I love coaching for these matches. It’s a Classic.”

The tone is set: beyond the sporting stakes, the PSG coach sees this encounter as a battle in its own right, fueled by passion and public pressure.

Pressure, an unavoidable ingredient

Asked about how the pressure is shared between him and Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique played down the issue:

“Pressure concerns everyone: coaches, players, fans. These are special matches, which we love to play and coach, with the passion of the crowd.”

The Spaniard pointed out that the Parc des Princes is already a high-intensity stage every week, and that his team has learned to live with this constant demand.

References, but no guarantees

Even though PSG is on a very favorable run against Marseille (12–1 across the last four Classics since his arrival), Luis Enrique refused to lean on the past:

“For me, there’s no reference point, not to what we’ve done in previous years, nor even last week. We remain focused on the essential: preparing for this match.”

A pragmatic speech, where every Classic is treated as a new battle, independent of recent history.

Focus on Nuno Mendes and managing emotions

Luis Enrique also took the time to praise Nuno Mendes, who was brilliant recently against Atalanta:

“He’s the kind of player who can play wherever he wants. Incredible mentality, top-level technical and physical quality. One of the most complete players I’ve ever coached.”

Finally, the coach stressed the importance of controlling emotions in a context where every referee decision can tilt the game:

“Emotions matter a lot. To manage them, you have to be in good mental and physical shape. Controlling emotions is vital in this kind of encounter.”

A Classic already underway

For Marseille, this trip to the Parc comes in a special context: an encouraging but frustrating match against Real Madrid (2–1) and the desire to turn that performance into a psychological boost. Roberto De Zerbi and his players know that a result in this Classic could be a foundation for the rest of the season.

As for Luis Enrique, he remains calm and experienced. But behind the measured words, everyone knows a PSG–OM is never played “normally”: it’s lived, it’s won… or it’s endured.