Paris Saint Germain takes a 1-0 lead on Arsenal back to the French capital for their Champions League Semi-Final Second Bone
Luis Enrique helped to throw Paris Saint Germain's Superstar Bling culture and now cycles to work every day. PSG -Baas Enrique has built a team ethics far away from the days of mega stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar JR who did not deliver the European glory for the French giants.
But PSG is now on track to deliver the holy grail of the Champions League with a new togetherness in the dressing room and a more sober mentality outside the field. Former Barcelona Enrique also gives his own example by going on his bike every day and driving the 9 km in the club's training field on the outskirts of Paris.
Enrique said: “Coming cycling is only 9 km, it's not really too much to do that, but last year we had many comments about how we behave in the competition. It is something that is very positive because the most important is in sport.
“The supporters want to enjoy, enjoy the opportunity, just as they go to the cinema to be entertained. We want to deliver for them.”
That was reflected by Achraf Hakimi who has seen the big names and is now enjoying more in a team about the solidarity in the Parc des Princes. The only really big name is Ousmane Dembele who declared himself fit after a hamstring problem because he is desperately part of it.
Hakimi added: “The president, sports director and the coach, they tried to build a team instead of star players and that is the key to this new Saint Germain in Paris. The collective is more important than the individuals and that is why we are so strong.
“For example, Dembele in the past, if he wasn't 100 percent fit, he might not play, but now everyone wants to be there.”
Hakimi says that the quality of Dembele brings an X factor, but the players also enjoy the ride. He added: “I think there are small things you can say, Dembele is a very different player, he is a player who lets you go to the stadium and want to watch the game. He is a genius with the ball and we are very happy to have him.
“It is a positive pressure, good pressure because these are the types of games that players want to play and we will not change our approach and the way we want to play.”