PSG’s frustrating stroll in Brittany: Enrique defends a measured performance after Lorient stalemate
30 October 2025
Match Reflections
Spanish coach Luis Enrique, manager of Paris Saint-Germain, defended his team after the 1-1 draw at Lorient on Wednesday night in Ligue 1 matchday 10.
PSG failed to impress at Lorient's fortress ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, and young winger Désiré Doué suffered a serious injury that could keep him out for a long spell.
Le Parisien described the game as a stroll that turned into a nightmare for the visitors, who drew for the third time in their last four league games and watched Doué leave the pitch in tears, clutching the back of his right thigh.
PSG's points tally after ten rounds stood at nine, with the club on 21 points at the top temporarily; Lorient rose to nine points in the 16th spot as the reigning champions failed to win in this one.
Enrique acknowledged a poor display, especially in the first half, noting that the team created few chances and struggled to break down Lorient's defence, but improvements were seen after the break as they chased a win that would have secured maximum points.
On Doué's injury, the coach said injuries are always bad news and the exact extent was still unknown, hoping it is not serious.
He added that he preferred to assume all players are available and that more will be learned about Doué's status in due time; professional life often means balancing club and country, with higher risk of fatigue and injury.
Asked whether the failure to inspire the more experienced players or the younger ones disappointed him more, Enrique replied that it was a tough match for the whole squad and that he was frustrated not to help the team more.
He warned that leading up to the game against Lorient he had warned about how tough it would be, explaining that a poor first half invites the opponent to press harder and that turning around a deficit with no rhythm is hard.
He rejected the notion that PSG has lost its aura in Ligue 1, questioning whether such a perception is accurate, and stressed that the defense from opponents earns respect while PSG must stay focused for 90 minutes to win tough matches, a point he had anticipated but few believed.
Enrique concluded, noting that the team didn’t deserve to win against Lorient and congratulating the opponent for defending brilliantly. He emphasized football’s nature: stay focused for the full 90 minutes and keep chasing big results, even when others doubt you.
PSG results this season
PSG have six wins, one defeat to Marseille in the France’s classic and two draws. They beat Nantes and Angers 1-0, then hammered Toulouse 6-3, won at Lens 2-0, and beat Auxerre 2-0. Before the October international break they drew away to Lille 1-1 and then drew again with Strasbourg 3-3 at the Parc des Princes, briefly dropping top spot before reclaiming it with a win over Brest, and finally drawing with Lorient as they chase a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title.
In the broader context, the coach’s comments and PSG’s results reflect a season of high expectations and tight margins as the league race intensifies and injuries test the squad depth.
Humor note: when the ball finally found someone to pass to, it seemed PSG remembered there’s a game still going on. Humor injection aside, the clock is ticking and the race for the title remains wide open.
Punchline 1: PSG’s defensive wall is so solid it could be mistaken for a corporate firewall—except it occasionally lets the attackers through with a polite tap on the shoulder. Punchline 2: If patience were a weapon, Enrique would have launched a full-scale artillery unit—unfortunately, this armory seems to have a lot of timeout requests during matchdays.
