Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) coach Luis Enrique emphasized the need for his players to stay more attentive to quick transitions after the club failed to secure a win in its last two matches. The French champions drew 2‑2 with Rennes on Sunday, salvaging a point thanks to two late goals from substitute Ferran Torres, who made his club debut.
Defensive lapses highlighted
Enrique pointed to the team’s defensive positioning during rapid breaks, saying, “(Transitional play) was one of our strengths over the past three seasons, being attentive to that. There are certain positions where you need to be sure your position is covered by another player. If you’re a little bit distracted, you can have problems.” Both Rennes goals came on quick counters, exposing gaps that PSG also showed when Lens scored in the Trophée des Champions, the French Super Cup, a week earlier.
Physical shape and fatigue
With many PSG players still returning from the World Cup, preseason preparation was limited. Enrique noted that the physical condition of the squad likely contributed to the defensive issues, especially after a brief preseason that preceded the team’s 2‑1 victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on August 12.
Key moments in the Rennes match
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, a World Cup standout for France, was substituted at halftime with PSG trailing 2‑0. The first Rennes goal resulted from a quick break down the left, leaving defender Sebastian Szymanski with too much space on the edge of the penalty area. The second came after a rapid right‑side counter, pulling PSG players out of position and allowing striker Esteban Lepaul to score.
Rennes nearly clinched the win in the closing minutes when a counter‑attack on the left forced PSG defender Willian Pacho to clear a header off the line.
Future fixtures
PSG’s next challenge will be an away match against Lille on Friday. The club’s home game against Rennes was moved to the opponent’s stadium after damage to the Parc des Princes pitch caused by a severe heatwave in Paris this summer.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
