Enrique Stands Firm: PSG's New Signings Earn Unwavering Trust

Enrique’s Confidence in the Signings

Spanish coach Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, refused to cast doubt on the club’s summer acquisitions as the season rolled into action. After a 3-0 victory at Le Havre on Saturday in Ligue 1, Enrique said every match is different and that it’s important to assess goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier’s performance while maintaining confidence in the squad.

Speaking to the press, cited by the French newspaper Le Parisien, he added: "I have no doubts about Lucas, nor about the new arrivals Elia Zabarny and Renato Marin. Playing for PSG comes with hype, and that’s something we must get used to. But I again trust Lucas Chevalier."

Road to Christmas: Key Moments and Fixtures

The manager also stressed the importance of reclaiming the Ligue 1 summit, with strong rivals like Olympique Marseille and Lens in pursuit. "We need to get back on top before Christmas because there are important games across all competitions, and we must start this run with a win," he said.

Enrique lauded the Portuguese duo Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves: "Mendes’ return to match action is good news. He played a full game, looked sharp, and is ready for the next one against Tottenham Hotspur." Regarding Neves, he joked: "What are you talking about? The short guy who scores a lot of goals? He is amazing, with standout technical skills. He faced some criticism earlier, which is normal, and we are happy with his development and goal-scoring too."

He also praised Le Havre’s performance: "They deserved more; they played well and had chances. It was a tough game, which is normal in the first match after the international break. Rotating the lineup was important, and Le Havre had periods of dominance but left with a result that reflected the day."

Paris Saint-Germain opened the scoring through Lee Kang-in in the 29th minute, with Neves and Barcola adding the second and third in the 65th and 86th minutes. The win lifted PSG to 30 points, reclaiming top spot in Ligue 1, two points ahead of Marseille, which itself sits above Lens on goal difference. Le Havre stands 14 points, in 12th place, after a fifth Ligue 1 defeat this season.

The result boosts PSG’s morale ahead of two tough tests in a week: hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday and then visiting Monaco on Saturday. Le Havre hosts Lille on November 30.

Enrique had to cope without three players—Hakimi, Doy, and Dembele—due to injuries, while fielding Lucas Chevalier in goal behind a back four of Nuno Mendes, Benoit Beraldo, Elia Zabarny, and Warren Zaïre-Emery.

PSG’s 2025-2026 season snapshot:
PSG has nine league wins with one defeat to Marseille in the Clasico and three draws. They beat Nantes and Angers 1-0, thumped Toulouse 6-3, beat Lens 2-0, and defeated Auxerre 2-0. Before the international break in October, they drew at Lille (1-1) and later 3-3 with Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes, briefly losing the lead before beating Brest and drawing with Lorient, then beating Nice 1-0. They also edged Lyon 3-2. In Europe, PSG began their title defence with a perfect start by clinching the UEFA Super Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Tottenham. In the Champions League, they opened with three straight wins: Atalanta (4-0) at home, Barcelona (2-1) in Montjuïc, and Bayer Leverkusen (7-2) in Germany, before a 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the round of four.

Two quick punchlines for good measure: If defending titles were a sport, PSG would have built a fortress. And if transfer talk were a comedy show, tonight’s episode would end with a standing ovation for not doubting the squad.