PA Media/dpa
Paris
Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique insists his full focus is on Rennes ahead of a busy schedule for his side.
PSG remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 so far this season and sit top of the table on goal difference ahead of their meeting with eighth-placed Rennes on Friday night.
The game is the first of three in 10 days for PSG, who travel to the Emirates for a Champions League clash with Arsenal on Tuesday and then play Nice next weekend before the international break.
Despite a busy window of fixtures, Luis Enrique insists he is only thinking about Friday’s game.
“Rennes are a top end of the table team. Last year, they caused us problems, even in the Coupe de France, they don’t leave any space,” he told a press conference.
“Against us, our opponents always change a few things. Rennes are used to a high press, but I don’t think they’ll do that on Friday because they’re a team that adapts.
“My job is to cope with this and find solutions. They’re a top end of the table team. There are no easy matches, there will be problems, but I’m an optimistic person when it comes to matches like this.
“Arsenal? I won’t be thinking about Arsenal at any time during the game against Rennes. We have to win the game against Rennes, everything else is in the future and doesn’t interest me at the moment.” One of the players who has made an impact for PSG this season is Joao Neves, who joined the club from Benfica in the summer.
Neves - who turns 20 on Friday - has featured in all five of PSG’s league matches this season, as well as making an appearance from the bench in their Champions League opener against Girona and Luis Enrique believes the Portugal midfielder displays “vital characteristics” for his side.
Luis Enrique said: “What I expect of him is what I expect of all my midfielders. Joao Neves is a player who can perfectly adapt to my style of play.
“He has vital characteristics for us because he is capable of not losing the ball when we face pressure. He can play long balls, has fantastic vision, has physical power, has footballing intelligence.
“He links up well with his teammates and has a good tempo and intensity in attack and defence, so I think he is adapting very quickly and it has been clear that this is just the start of the process.
“It doesn’t just apply to him but all of the new arrivals, they are all doing well and settling in quickly.”
