“The priority right now is adapting to the schedule,” declared Luis Enrique during Saturday’s pre-match press conference, ahead of the final Ligue 1 fixture against Paris FC. Already crowned French champions, the club treated this encounter as a stepping stone toward their May 30 Champions League final clash with Arsenal in Budapest. Yet the performance delivered fell far short of expectations.

“I’m disappointed,” admitted Luis Enrique after the match. “There’s nothing positive to take from this game. When you play without ambition or intensity, the results speak for themselves.”

A season finale unlike any other

Unlike last season, when PSG faced Reims in the Coupe de France final just seven days before their Champions League showdown against Inter Milan, this year’s preparation period looks entirely different. “This season’s finale is more challenging than usual,” noted the Spanish manager. “Last year, the Coupe de France final provided a huge motivational boost. Now, we have two weeks to focus entirely on what could be the most important match in our history.”

Luis Enrique outlined a clear plan moving forward: “We’ll prioritize both physical and mental recovery, followed by a friendly match next weekend to reintroduce competitive football. We’re closely monitoring updates on Ousmane Dembélé’s knock, who was substituted precautionarily at halftime on Sunday. Meanwhile, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, and Quentin Ndjantou are gradually resuming full training after individual sessions on Saturday.

Balancing preparation and caution

Last season, the team flew to Munich the evening before the final, conducting a final training session at Allianz Arena the night prior to kickoff. This year’s timeline offers a longer runway, allowing for a more measured approach to preparation.