Match Highlights
Spanish coach Luis Enrique continues to laud Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi after Paris Saint-Germain's 3-0 victory over Brest on Saturday, in Ligue 1 matchday nine.
Hakimi opened his Ligue 1 scoring account this season with goals in the 29th and 39th minutes, while his teammate Désiré Doué added the third in stoppage time.
With the win, PSG halted a run of two consecutive draws against Strasbourg and Lille and reclaimed top spot on 20 points, as Marseille slipped to third after a 1-2 loss to Lens, who climbed to 19.
Enrique praised Hakimi again, saying the Moroccan performs brilliantly in every game and possesses qualities that are a joy to watch.
Asked if Hakimi reminded him of himself, Enrique replied that his own abilities were lesser; he used to play as a defender but was more of a forward, whereas Hakimi defends well as an attacking full-back and delivered a standout performance.
The coach also commented on the lengthy five-minute stoppage for Brest's penalty, noting that such decisions are for the referee, not the manager.
He added that Brest's physical threat required a specific defensive approach and that PSG defended with discipline and balance, especially around second balls, to control the game.
Enrique, who was crowned World Manager of the Year at the Ballon d'Or ceremony this year, said he was happy with the mindset and the style that produced a deserved victory, while praising the second-half contribution from players who limited Brest's danger.
Hakimi spoke after the match about his goals, saying he feels good and that Enrique pushes to place all players in peak condition; he believes the coach's philosophy suits him perfectly.
He also spoke about his Ballon d'Or ambitions, calling nominations a dream and prioritizing team trophies above personal glory.
Following the game, Hakimi posted on X: "It was a wonderful evening" along with three photos from his brace.
The praise from teammates followed, with peers hailing Hakimi as the best right-back in the world, highlighting his blend of defensive rigor and forward-like qualities.
PSG’s season so far has seen six wins and a single league defeat (0-1 to Marseille in the classic) with two draws; wins over Nantes, Angers (1-0), Toulouse (6-3), Lens (2-0), and Auxerre (2-0), plus late-season draws at Lille (1-1) and Strasbourg (3-3) before the international break. In Europe, PSG began with a European Super Cup triumph over Tottenham on penalties after a 2-2 draw and have since registered three straight Champions League wins against Atalanta, Barcelona, and Bayer Leverkusen, underscoring a promising campaign ahead.
Punchline 1: If Hakimi ever left football, his résumé would still include “delivers crosses on time.”
Punchline 2: Enrøque might admit Hakimi is his benchmark, but let’s be honest—Hakimi already has the headlines and the assists to back it up.
