Key Takeaways:
- Last night, Luis Enrique revealed his ambition for PSG to possess 20 outfield players comfortable in any position on the pitch
- Paris Saint-Germain will face Toulouse tomorrow, before taking on Liverpool in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg next week
- Bradley Barcola has been ruled out of the upcoming fixture against Liverpool, while Fabián Ruiz’s participation against Toulouse remains undecided
Enrique Prioritises Squad Flexibility
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique underscored his aspiration to build a squad of highly versatile footballers, expressing his delight at the prospect of fielding players in multiple roles. Speaking to the press, Enrique explained: “Players like to play in one position, but my dream is to have 20 footballers who can play in all positions,” said the Spaniard.
With Achraf Hakimi unavailable, Enrique deployed Warren Zaïre-Emery at right-back, highlighting his readiness to experiment with player positioning. The manager also noted that Nuno Mendes has featured in several roles, stating: “Nuno Mendes as a full-back, Nuno Mendes as a winger, Nuno Mendes as a number 9. If we exclude the goalkeepers, it would be a dream for my players to be able to play everywhere. Imagine the opposing coach seeing a lineup where the footballers can play anywhere,” shared Luis Enrique.
🚨 Luis Enrique 🇪🇸 : « 𝗝’𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗥 𝟮𝟬 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗦 𝗤𝗨𝗜 𝗣𝗘𝗨𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗧. 😂
Nuno Mendes latéral, Nuno Mendes ailier, Nuno Mendes numéro 9… Sauf les gardiens qui sont de très haut niveau.
Imagine l'adversaire quand il voit la… pic.twitter.com/LSxJD76zcO
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) April 2, 2026
Squad News Ahead of Key Matches
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to face Toulouse tomorrow, followed by a critical Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Liverpool next week. Enrique confirmed that there are no fresh injuries following the international break and indicated that the condition of Fabián Ruiz is progressing. However, the final decision on Ruiz’s availability will be made subsequent to today’s training session. In contrast, Bradley Barcola has been ruled out of the upcoming match against Liverpool.
Outlining the immediate challenges facing the team, Enrique remarked: “Tomorrow we start with Toulouse. We have to win to show that we are ready, because Lens is having an incredible season. Will Barcola be ready for the return leg against Liverpool? I don’t know. I can’t give you that information. We can’t ask Bradley Barcola. When I talk to him, I’ll ask how he feels. We won’t rush him. The most important thing is for him to recover well,” explained Enrique.
Manager’s Salary Not a Distraction
Addressing recent claims by L’Équipe regarding his earnings – reportedly €1 million per month, making him the highest-paid manager in French football – Enrique responded: “Do you think the players care about my salary? I don’t think it matters. Of course, I am one of the best-paid coaches in the world. That’s great for me.”
