Luis Enrique provided an update on the squad before the Ligue 1 match against Monaco.
Motivated or not? “I think we always try to express what our position as leaders means. Monaco is one of the best teams, a direct rival for the title. We know the difficulties that await us. It’s a wonderful match, and we need to prepare a very competitive team for Friday.”
Nuno Mendes. “Yes, he can be fielded alongside Hakimi; good players can do that. Nuno Mendes is a very effective player. He has mostly played on the left side, but now we have more variety and choices with him. His return is very interesting for us because it’s an option for the staff and me.”
Marquinhos. “I would like to have all the players at my disposal, but that’s how it is, a football team is like that. Sometimes there are players absent due to injury or suspension. My goal is to prepare all the players. It’s easier when all the starters are there, but the goal is to prepare the team.”
The final stretch. “We are entering a difficult period, the best period of the season, where we play for titles. It’s a pleasant feeling, but we need to finish the job over the last three months. We always want to improve the team. We must remain true to our style of play; there is no need to change the philosophy, but we need to improve the details.”