Luis Enrique attended the press on Thursday, on the eve of Rennes vs. Paris Saint-Germain.

Enrique provided updates on Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi and also commented on Ousmane Dembele's excellent form.

The Spanish coach was also asked about Marquinhos and Ilya Zabarnyi, as well as the match against Rennes and the goalkeeper hierarchy. Here are his full remarks.

You gave your players two and a half days of rest last week, with the success we all know, since you won against Marseille. Do you feel that right now, your team needs rest more than work on the training ground?

"Hello. It depends. It depends on the schedule, it depends on many things. But this season is particular, because we only had three weeks of vacation after an eternal season, a very long one. It depends. For me, it's important to have the days we need to work. But it's very important, in order to try to control the pressure, the stress, the tension that always exists on a high-level team, to have rest, to disconnect, to try to find the joy of coming to train and being happy with what you do. It's very important. Everyone thinks: they earn a lot of money, they play soccer, they're athletes, they enjoy it (he laughs). That's the easy part, but different things are important. And resting is, for me, one of those things."

A few months ago, Roberto Martinez, the Portugal national team coach, said that Nuno Mendes was perhaps the perfect player. He said he didn't know a perfect player and that Nuno Mendes, in any case, came close. Do you share that view?

"The perfect player... (he pauses to think) I don't know if there is a perfect player, I think not. But surely if there were to be a player with many different qualities, physically, technically, and personally, Nuno would clearly be there next to that perfect player. But there is no perfect player, in my opinion."

Fabian Ruiz has been absent for almost a month now. What exactly is his knee injury, and is he close to returning?

"Fabi? I don't know how long it will be before he returns, but he is improving his condition, his injury. Normally, there are different aspects, but there are injuries from which you recover very quickly, and sometimes faster than expected. In this case, it's a little slower than usual. You should know that the doctors and the player are improving (his physical condition), they are doing different types of training, but not yet with the group."

Right now, Ousmane (Dembele)'s statistics show that he is an even more important assist provider, particularly in open play. Do you think he has progressed compared to last season? Has his game changed?

"No, really, I think he is like last season and like two years ago. I remember you asked me the question two weeks ago, telling me he was very inconsistent, and today you changed the question and told me he is very consistent. No. It's the same Ousmane Dembele: a different player, brilliant, a player with many qualities, and when he has the continuity that he can have with matches, he is different. He is always a very beautiful player to watch, and we must enjoy a player with his quality."

We see Marquinhos still particularly effective and consistent this season. Yet, last summer, one might have thought his playing time would perhaps decrease, particularly with the arrival of Ilya Zabarnyi, his age, and other reasons. What is your assessment of his performances this season, and does his longevity still surprise you?

"No, no, no. I am not surprised, because he is a player everyone knows, he is the captain, he is the leader of the locker room, and he is important. Sometimes we think about the day when Marquinhos will no longer be in the team, and we wonder who will speak, who will motivate the players, because he is a true leader, and I am very happy to have him. He has always performed well since I have been here, and I am very happy to have him, particularly in this very positive moment."

Ousmane Dembele said, "PSG is back." Do you share his view?

"You know my opinion about performing well throughout the season. If we are back, that's wonderful, because it's the best part of the season. The important thing is to win the next match tomorrow, and it won't be easy, because when you play away against a team like Rennes, which is struggling, it's always difficult. And we must continue to put pressure on Lens and Olympique Lyonnais, that is our job and our objective."

Regarding Achraf Hakimi, who was suspended for the match against Olympique de Marseille and was able to have a week of rest, do you believe he is back to 100% of his physical capabilities, or does he still need time to truly be in form after what he experienced in the first part of the season?

"To know if a player is at 100%, you need to see different matches, and the performance in each match is important. It's normal to have ups and downs; we are used to that, and what is important is that he is back and he can play."

Habib Beye was dismissed from his position as Rennes coach after three losses. I imagine you have analyzed this team extensively. What do you think of his work at the helm of Rennes?

"I should no longer speak about Habib Beye because he is no longer the coach of Rennes. For us, this has happened two or three times this past season. Every time we play against a team that changes coaches, we must be attentive to see if there are different circumstances and know that we must be ready to judge, to analyze during the match, because there isn't much to analyze. before the match. We are used to this, and it's important to be ready to overcome it."

We see that Ilya Zabarnyi has played a bit less in recent matches. How can you explain that he is struggling a bit more, that he is still having difficulty adapting to his new team, even though he arrived in August?

"I disagree with you. I told you a month ago that you were very impatient with the players we recruit, and I spoke to you about the difficulties of adaptation. Each player has a different adaptation time. I am not concerned about any player we signed last summer. We need to know that it's difficult to adapt very quickly. And I am very happy with those we signed. Normally, you can give minutes, but this season, it's more difficult, because we were eliminated from the Coupe de France. There are four matches we did not play. This is the key moment of the season. You should know that we need all the players, and they must be ready to help the team, regardless of the moment. I don't know if that moment will come. I hope so. And I am sure there will be moments for Zabarnyi, for the players who are not starters right now. But that's the life of a very high-level team."

Senny Mayulu remained in treatment today. You mentioned earlier that Fabian Ruiz is not yet available. Could we see Dro start tomorrow, or do you think it is still a bit premature?

"Of course, we are open to using the players who are on the team. This is the moment. That's why we like to hold training sessions, to see if the players are ready. Of course, competition is more important than training, but this is a particular moment. Whenever there are injuries, it's time to take advantage and see the rest of the players. I think this season, we have shown this ability to overcome various injuries."

We know that great teams know how to make a difference at the right moment. It seems that last year, but also this season, you pressed the button at the right moment: January, February, March. Is it important for you to be effective at the right moment, and not necessarily in September, October, or November?

"This is the most important moment of the season because it is the moment when all the trophies are decided. Afterward, there will be the World Cup. It's important as a team. We have sought to improve. I think we are still in this phase of improvement and in this desire to try to defend better, to attack better, and to have all the players available. I hope this season to experience that moment when all the players will be there to help the team and to be stronger than usual."

Do you believe you must have a hierarchy at the goalkeeper position or not necessarily?

"What I think, you can measure it by what I have done, by the players I have chosen. It is not a plan. We must continue with what I think, as a coach, and with what we think, as a staff, to find what is best for the team. And you know that changes during the season, not only due to injuries, but also due to my decisions. We are open to everything we can do to improve the team. That means there is no hierarchy, there is no No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. It doesn't worry me. I always think about the things that can improve the team."

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