After Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat against Barcelona (2-3) in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, Luis Enrique justified the late entry into play of Warren Zaire-Emery on the field. Expected in the starting eleven, the French phenomenon ultimately only played the last half hour of the continental duel.
Revelation of the season at PSG, Warren Zaire-Emery already seems indispensable in the Paris region. But that did not prevent Luis Enrique from leaving him on the bench at the end of the Champions League quarter-final first leg lost against Barça (2-3) this Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. After the meeting, the Parisian club technician explained this tactical move.
“The only person who can see the training and who watches all the matches is me. That’s why I’m the coach. That’s why I worked for so many years,” he said. assured Luis Enrique during his post-match press conference. “I thought the players I chose were the best, best prepared and in a better time.”
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“I happily accept everything that defeat entails”
Entering in the 61st minute in place of Kang-In Lee, Warren Zaire-Emery did not particularly impact the end of the match. Unfortunately for him, he suffered from the comparison with Pedri, who entered at the same time after several weeks of absence.
Worse, the new French international is not exempt from all criticism for the third Catalan goal by letting go of the marking on Andreas Christensen. But that did not prevent Luis Enrique from taking responsibility after the defeat of PSG.
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“It’s obvious that the result discredits my decisions but I happily accept everything that a defeat implies,” the 53-year-old coach told journalists. “I accept it. I am a competitor, a great professional. I congratulate the rival who played a great match and won. And I prepare for the next match.”
Touched and replaced during the Coupe de France semi-final against Rennes (1-0), Warren Zaire-Emery was then preserved in Ligue 1 against Clermont (1-1). Even if Luis Enrique did not want to say it and put forward a coaching choice, the 18-year-old midfielder was perhaps simply not 100% for the European summit against Barça. We’ll see if next Tuesday at Montjuïc, the PSG coach will still choose to do without the phenomenon at the start of the quarter-final.