´What courage you have´ – Luis Enrique laughs off PSG critics ahead of Auxerre trip

Luis Enrique laughed off criticism of Paris Saint-Germain’s recent results as he looked ahead to their trip to Auxerre, saying journalists don’t even have 50% of the information at his disposal.

PSG suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday, despite Luis Enrique saying they produced their best away performance of the season.

The reigning European champions missed the opportunity to all-but secure automatic qualification for the last 16, and they are also in second place in Ligue 1.

PSG have taken 42 points from 18 matches in the French top flight, but Lens have won eight straight Ligue 1 matches – and 10 in a row in all competitions – to lead the way.

Speaking at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Luis Enrique pointed out that those criticising his team only had limited knowledge of the challenges they have faced.

“I try to respect your opinions, but I can’t share them. I cannot share your opinion. You don’t have 50% of the information I have,” the Spaniard said.

“When I talk about the games and I see the opinions of the journalists about a game on television, it’s incredible. It’s unbelievable!

“What courage you have… Because you don’t have the information, but you still speak. If it’s okay, it works and if not, okay, no problem. That’s what professional football is all about.”

PSG endured something of an injury crisis before the turn of the year, but most of their star players are now available and they hope to recover Joao Neves for Friday’s match, after he missed two games with a muscle issue.

And despite Lens leading the way, the Opta supercomputer assigns PSG an 85.7% chance of retaining their domestic title, with Lens assigned a 13% chance of glory.

Asked about the difference between this campaign and 2024-25, when PSG won the treble, Luis Enrique said: “Last year we didn’t know we could win.

“Today, the players know that we can and the rest of the other teams know that we can win again – that’s the best thing.

“We have scored four more goals than last year. We have four points less in Ligue 1 and we are not first because Lens have won their last 10 games in a row and deserve to be first.

“If we analyse this particular season, we are in a very good moment with our points in Ligue 1 and with the worst fixtures of all the teams in the Champions League, we are still in a privileged position.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Auxerre – Clement Akpa

Auxerre are 17th in Ligue 1 and only outside the bottom three on goal difference, so a solid defensive performance must be their starting point at the Stade de l’Abbe Deschamps.

Left-back Akpa could have a key role to play in that regard – he has won 70% of his duels in Ligue 1 this season (76/108), the highest percentage of any player to contest at least 30.

Paris Saint-Germain – Warren Zaire-Emery

This could be a landmark occasion for Zaire-Emery, who is set to make his 100th appearance in Ligue 1.

At the age of 19 years and 321 days, he would become the third-youngest player to reach 100 Ligue 1 appearances since the start of Opta records in 1947-48, behind only Basile Boli (19 years, 38 days) and Richard Krawczyk (19 years, 250 days).

MATCH PREDICTION – PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN WIN

Both of PSG’s Ligue 1 defeats this season have come in games that directly followed a Champions League match, against Marseille in September and Monaco in November.

They have won three and drawn one of their other four matches coming off a midweek European assignment – will they avoid a hangover here?

PSG are also in Champions League action next Wednesday, as they host Newcastle United, and they have won six of their seven Ligue 1 matches preceding a Champions League game (D1) this campaign.

PSG are the side Auxerre have faced most often in Ligue 1 (69 matches), but also the team against whom they have lost most often (30).

Auxerre have only lost 23% of their home Ligue 1 games against PSG in the 21st century (3/13 – W3 D7), the lowest percentage among teams who have hosted the Parisian club more than twice in that period, but the visitors are still overwhelming favourites.

Auxerre have suffered eight defeats without scoring in Ligue 1 this season, including their last two matches, which is at least two more than any other team.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Auxerre – 13.4%

Paris Saint-Germain – 68.5%

Draw – 18.1%