Luis Enrique: We start the season with the same desire to win trophies
PSG coach warns many players only recently returned to training ahead of the European Super Cup in Salzburg.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique warned that it is hard to judge his squad’s sharpness ahead of the European Super Cup match against Aston Villa in Salzburg on August 13, 2026, because several players have only just returned to training.
Late returns cloud team selection
Enrique said that parts of the squad rejoined work at different moments this week: "I rested all summer. We are fresh and happy to be back. Players are returning gradually. We start the season with a final, which means we did a good job last year. Our target is to perform at a high level. From the outset we set ambitious goals. Now we are in a different situation, because I think we can triumph again. But this is only theory. We must prove on the pitch that we are at the right level. Our objective is to win again, but it is not easy, history has shown that. We want to surpass the teams that achieved the treble," the Spaniard said.
He underlined that the staggered return makes it difficult to name a starting XI. "Many players were not involved in tests. It is difficult to decide who will play. Winning a European trophy is important for everyone. We'll see what both teams have to offer. The situation is surreal, I did not have players. Some players returned this Monday: the French, the Spanish and the Moroccan players. The Brazilians and the Portuguese returned last week. We accept the situation and try to prepare as best as possible. I don't know at what level my players will be tomorrow after their break," Enrique added.
The coach framed tomorrow’s match as both a reward for last season’s success and a tough competitive test to start 2026–27. He stressed PSG’s unchanged ambitions: the staff want the team to be unpredictable for opponents and to compete for major trophies again.
When asked about the controversies surrounding Gianni Infantino and FIFA, Enrique declined to elaborate. "I have an opinion, but I will not discuss it here, this is not the place. I am focused on my players and my work," he said, keeping the focus on the squad.
The game in Salzburg will be the first competitive fixture that effectively opens PSG’s new campaign — a high-profile opener that will give the club and fans an early measure of where the team stands after the summer break.
Photo: press material from the event
