PSG manager Luis Enrique provides fitness update on Kylian Mbappé

The Paris Saint Germain coach, Luis Enrique, spoke to the media this Thursday in the run-up to the match that will measure the Parisians against Nice, this Friday at 3 p.m. ET/12 noon PT, as part of match day 5 of Ligue 1.

Luis Enrique recognised that he will have to speak with Mbappé before the game to see if he can start or not, in addition to confirming a tribute to Marco Verratti, who left France this week to join Al Arabi for €50 million.

Before mentioning Mbappé, Keylor Navas and the competition between goalkeepers was discussed: “It is a wonderful situation as a coach. Having four goalkeepers of such a high level is wonderful. All four are ready. As professionals, they have to be prepared. All four are high level. I am super calm with them.”

“I have been a coach for more than ten years, twelve or thirteen, I don’t know how many”, Luis Enrique said after asking how he manages a squad that has seen many players, including Mbappé himself, sent to ‘exile’ over the summer months. “We have to manage weeks of three games, others of one, entire seasons... The squad we have designed is one or two players per position at the highest level, and that ambition is vital to achieve the objectives. All the players are going to have minutes and are going to be important throughout the season and that is the goal I have, like every year.”

Marco Verratti left PSG after 11 seasons to join Al-Arabi in Qatar: “I will take this opportunity to tell you that Verratti will be at the game tomorrow, and a tribute will be paid to him at the stadium. It will be a nice tribute for such an important player. I think it will be a very special moment for him and his family”, Luis Enrique said.

Is Mbappé still injured? When will he return?

“Tomorrow we will talk to Kylian about how he is feeling”, the manager said, “he has been able to train during the week. It is true that he had a slight discomfort. We will talk to him about it, and see how it is, but in principle I hope he can be available.”

And finally, Luis Enrique was asked about the differences in profile between Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos, PSG’s two new forwards: “Comparing players is a bit ugly. Each one brings their own things: their virtues and their defects. But as far as the number nine position is concerned, both Ramos and Kolo are players, I would say specialists, with a very good relationship with the goal. Kolo can play on the wing; I think they are two very complete players. Asensio can also play as 9, and he has already played there. Also Barcola. I think it is a very good position for me as a coach and I repeat, I am very happy to have those options.”