“The leader of the team is the club and the players, giving their best,” concluded Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique on Thursday when asked if the team would miss a media and sporting leader like Kylian Mbappé this season.

In a press conference ahead of PSG’s first French Ligue 1 match, which will see them face Le Havre away tomorrow, the Spanish coach said he is “very happy and satisfied” with the team he has.

He noted that it is better to have four players scoring 12 goals each than one player scoring 40, and explained that while previously all players would look for Mbappé due to his goal-scoring talent, now there is a range of possibilities.

Regarding his opinion on the newly signed Real Madrid forward, Luis Enrique said he has “nothing to hide,” considers him an “exceptional” person and player, and wishes him “the best,” although he also hopes Real Madrid loses against PSG.

Some of the questions about Mbappé came from Spanish media attending the press conference in Paris, to which Luis Enrique responded with a touch of irony: “Are you still here?”

Looking ahead to the new season, which is expected to be long with the Club World Cup in the summer, Luis Enrique expressed optimism about the versatility and number of players at his disposal, though he did not rule out last-minute signings.

Regarding whether PSG’s main rivals for the French Ligue 1 title, such as Monaco or Olympique de Marseille, have strengthened better, he mentioned it will “be seen throughout the season,” but he considers the current signings sufficient, especially given that the team made many acquisitions last season.

“The market is what it is,” he emphasized, “it’s difficult for all teams.”

With a younger squad now, Luis Enrique indicated that this is a “medium-to-long-term” project, with players he believes will improve the team “regardless of their age.”

For tomorrow’s match, he said that player rest and vacations were prioritized, so they will head to Le Havre with less training, although this will not be an “excuse” or “justification” for poor performance.

The former footballer and former Spain coach also praised the Olympic Games this summer, which he felt were “up to the level” of the country and the city where he has been working since last season.

Regarding his country’s performance, he asserted that while “as always, we could have had more medals,” it is important to congratulate all the Spanish athletes for their years of effort leading up to Paris.