Luis Enrique savouring PSG's 'special' run ahead of Toulouse test
Paris Saint-Germain travel to Toulouse in Ligue 1 this Saturday, hoping to maintain their 17-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Luis Enrique said that Paris Saint-Germain's recent run has been "special", but insisted his side must stay focused ahead of facing Toulouse in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
PSG have scored 23 goals in their last seven games across all competitions, while also enjoying a 17-match unbeaten run.
Luis Enrique watched on as his team edged closer to the Champions League last 16 with a dominant 3-0 victory in their play-off first leg clash against Brest on Tuesday.
The result saw the Parisiens score three or more goals in four consecutive Champions League games for just a second time (after a run of five in 2017).
They also sit at the summit of the Ligue 1 table, 10 points clear of second-placed Marseille, having claimed 53 points from 21 matches so far (W16 D5), losing none.
Indeed, PSG could become the fourth team to avoid defeat in their first 22 matches of a season in the top-flight after themselves in 1985-86 (26) and 2015-16 (27), and Nantes in 1994-95 (32) should they beat Toulouse in their next league match.
"We are in a very special moment. The whole team is effective, which makes us very happy, it gives us energy to continue fighting in all competitions," Luis Enrique said.
"We hand out the grades at the end of the school year. But today it is positive. The players and the staff are on the same line, and that is very positive.
"The first thing is that the players have to feel that we trust them, which is why I changed my starting line-ups.
"Our main idea is to be unpredictable for the opposition and predictable for ourselves. I like the way we play."
The Spaniard also lauded Joao Neves for his displays, with the Portuguese midfielder impressing since his move to the French capital from Benfica last year.
In Ligue 1 this season, no player has won more duels (101) or registered more assists (seven) for PSG than Neves, with Luis Enrique stressing his importance to the side.
"He arrived with his qualities. We knew he was going to be a very important player for us. He is like (Brazilian defender Lucas) Beraldo, who adapted very quickly," he said.
"We have players who are very good defensively and with the ball."
PSG have won 24 of their last 29 games in all competitions against Toulouse (D3 L2), only winning more often against Marseille and Lyon (26 – 24 also v Saint-Etienne) in all competitions since the start of 2010.
Toulouse have also not won any of their last five Ligue 1 matches (D3 L2) – their longest run in the top-flight since between October and December 2023 (10) – after winning six of the previous eight (L2).
Though Toulouse occupy 10th place in the table, Luis Enrique was wary of Carles Martinez Novell's side and the threat they could cause PSG at the Stadium de Toulouse.
"They have been struggling at home recently, but their coach knows our style of play very well," Luis Enrique concluded.
"We didn't beat Toulouse last season in Ligue 1. They managed to win at our place. Their coach knows how to cause us problems."