PSG ready to rebound: Enrique defends resting Hakimi ahead of Nice showdown
31 October 2025
PSG aim to rebound in Ligue 1 as Hakimi rests
Spanish coach Luis Enrique confirmed there is no issue with resting certain players, the latest being Moroccan star Ashraf Hakimi.
Three days after a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Lorient, PSG prepare for a stern test at home against Nice on Saturday at Parc des Princes, in Ligue 1 matchday 11.
The match offers a chance for the European champions to regain league momentum and boost morale ahead of their away Champions League fixture against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
Enrique on injuries, rest and the title race
Enrique told reporters on Friday that PSG can perform better in Ligue 1 and that resting players, including Hakimi, is part of managing the squad’s balance.
He noted that Nice have won at Parc des Princes in their last two visits, which would be an extra incentive for PSG, and that the team is not used to dropping so many points at home, especially against a side in good form like Nice.
The coach added that fluctuations are part of football and life, and there are many technical aspects to improve compared with their Champions League campaign, whose results differ from last season.
“We need to win every Ligue 1 game,” he said. “The champion is the team that shows the most consistency across the season; we’re top now, but there’s room for improvement.”
When asked about Doye’s injury and Ousmane Dembélé’s fitness, Enrique said Dembélé is not currently facing issues and that injuries are part of professional life. The positive is several players have returned from injury recently.
He stressed there is no fear among PSG players about injuries; rather, accepting injuries is part of being a professional. He also noted that he plans to rest more players when needed to help individual development and that players can request rests, which is not a problem for him given a different mindset.
“Decisions depend on many factors—match context, players’ conditioning, and age. We must adapt our plans continuously,” he said, praising Nice coach Franck Is for making the game difficult and hoping to motivate his squad to secure three points as a solid lead into the Champions League.
Enrique also expressed satisfaction with PSG’s defensive improvement this season, noting that football sometimes doesn’t reflect results. He hopes to concede fewer goals and sustain the current upward trajectory.
Mercato Paris Saint-Germain
PSG, under Enrique, completed three summer signings to reinforce the European champions’ squad for 2025-2026. The club bolstered the defense and goalkeeping with young talent: French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, 23, from Lille; Ukrainian defender Illya Zabarnyi, 23, from Bournemouth; and Italian teenager Renato Marin, 19, from Roma.
