Luis Enrique urges patience as PSG face early Ligue 1 setback

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique says there is “no reason to be concerned” despite the club’s worst start to a Ligue 1 season for 19 years.

PSG remain without a win after three league matches following Friday’s 2-1 home defeat by Monaco. The result leaves the reigning champions with two points, seven behind the early pace-setters.

The disappointing opening comes just days before PSG begin their defence of the Champions League title. Despite the poor domestic form, the club have extended Luis Enrique’s contract until 2030.

The Spanish manager remained positive after his side surrendered a half-time lead against Monaco and conceded twice after the interval.

“There is no reason to be concerned. I say that honestly. How many shots on target did Monaco have? Two. How many goals? Two. We’ll see at the end of the season whether things balance out,” he said.

Luis Enrique argued that the match should not be judged solely by the final score, pointing to PSG’s performance without possession as evidence that their results could soon improve.

“What I want to get across is that you shouldn’t look only at the result. We pressed sensationally, much better than in many matches when we did not concede a goal. But luck was not on our side,” he added.

PSG had been ahead at the break but could not hold on, allowing Monaco to turn the match around in the second half. Luis Enrique believes the defeat was an unusual outcome rather than a sign of a deeper problem.

“Monaco know that if they play against us like this 10 times, we win eight, there’d be one draw and we’d lose once. This was that one defeat,” he insisted.

PSG will now turn their attention to Europe, with Slovan Bratislava due to visit on Wednesday for their first Champions League group game. The French club are seeking a third successive European title.

Their current league record is their poorest since the 2007-08 campaign, when Paul Le Guen’s team came close to relegation. PSG did not win until their sixth league match that season and eventually finished 16th, only three points clear of the relegation places.

Luis Enrique is confident this season’s deficit can be recovered, despite PSG already trailing the leaders by seven points.

“It is incredible motivation for my players, for the team and for the club. If you want to bet on who will be champions at the end of the season, we can place a bet. Seven points? OK, we will try to make up that deficit as quickly as possible,” the coach said.