Luis Enrique insists Paris Saint-Germain has shown steady development this season despite recently cutting their lead at the top of Ligue 1.
PSG recorded a crucial 3-0 Champions League win over Salzburg in midweek but remain at risk of missing out on the play-off squad in the knockout stages, with just seven points from six games.
Their domestic form has been much better, with the Ligue 1 champions remaining unbeaten after fourteen matches ahead of Sunday's match with Lyon at the Parc des Princes.
However, they drew their last two matches in Ligue 1: 1-1 against Nantes and 0-0 against Auxerre, allowing Marseille to reduce their lead at the top of the table to five points.
They could now go three games in a row without winning in the same Ligue 1 season for the second time in three years, having also done so between February and March this year.
However, PSG dominated in both draws, recording 24 shots in both matches, including 10 on target against Nantes and 11 against Auxerre.
Luis Enrique believes this is a good benchmark to measure their performance: “Statistically, this is my best season as a coach.
“Even if you criticize, if lies are made up, it is my best in terms of numbers, on the chances generated by us and the chances given away to the opponents.
“I've had seasons of great success. But I only see positive things here. Regardless of the negativity that has been there since the start of the season.”
“Little by little things are falling into place and I am very happy with this season.
“There have been difficulties in the Champions League, but it is a growth process that depends on the ability to overcome problems. The level of training is increasing, the players are getting better every day… This is the best season of my career.”
PSG are largely on target according to the underlying figures in Ligue 1, scoring 35 times from 37.47 expected goals against (xG, excluding own goals) and 11 times against 11.83 expected goals against (xGA).
Bradley Barcola is a PSG player who has been struggling in front of goal lately. He played three league matches without scoring after scoring ten times in the first eleven matches.
Luis Enrique believes Barcola is still contributing, adding: “Bradley has been decisive in every game. You judge him on assists or goals, but football is a much more complex sport.”
“A player can be the key without scoring or getting an assist. What is important is that the eleven players attack or defend together. That is the goal. Who wins the best player award is not important to us .”
Sunday's opponents Lyon have won their last four games in all competitions, including impressive victories over Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, so Luis Enrique expects a tough assignment.
“We know Lyon well. It is an opponent that is currently in very good form and scoring well, both in Europe and in Ligue 1,” the Spanish tactician added.
“They have real quality in their team, so that creates a lot of motivation and desire to tackle the task.
“The danger with Lyon is that they are able to keep the ball. They have some very good individual players.”
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