Marquinhos Signals Tough Standards as Luis Enrique Prepares PSG for Champions League Kickoff
Marquinhos, captain of Paris Saint-Germain, has issued a strong message to his teammates, highlighting that manager Luis Enrique will not hesitate to drop any player who doesn't give their all. This comes just before the reigning European champions face Slovan Bratislava in their opening match of the Champions League group stage.
PSG Start Their Title Defense
The French giants are set to kick off their campaign at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening against Yaya Touré's Bratislava. Having won the tournament last season with a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal, PSG aim to start their defense strongly in Europe. The fixture also offers a break for Enrique’s squad after a tough start to their domestic season, having failed to win any of their first three Ligue 1 games in 2026-27.
Captain Demands Full Effort
Marquinhos emphasized that everyone must commit fully in training or risk being left out of the squad by the Spanish coach. He explained the manager's strict approach: "He’s not just making tough decisions this season. He has his own way of managing. The group has to give 100% in training to earn their place. That’s what he demands.""It’s up to the players to push themselves to the limit every day. Everyone has to work to earn their spot. Sometimes players get left out of the squad. That hurts, but everyone understands. That’s football, that’s how it is. He’s done a very good job managing so far, it’s worked. He has his philosophy and isn’t afraid to make tough decisions when necessary."
Enrique Stresses Need for Focus
Luis Enrique boasts an impressive 63 percent win rate in Champions League matches, the best among coaches with at least 50 games in the competition. Before the game against Slovan Bratislava, he reminded his team about the difficulty of the tournament: "This is the toughest competition. How many teams can win? Six, eight, five. The difference is very small. We’re aiming for a very good start. We’re going to play a seemingly easy match, but there are no easy matches. We have to stay focused."
History and Stakes
PSG’s record as defending champions is strong; none of the last 35 titleholders have lost their opening home match in Europe since 1967. A solid performance is key to lifting spirits before a demanding autumn schedule. Luis Enrique faces the challenge of restoring consistency and confidence to a squad still searching for its first league win this season.
- Competition: Champions League
- Match: Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava
- Date & Time: 9 Sept 2026, 21:00
- Location: Parc des Princes
- PSG Domestic Form: 0 wins in first 3 Ligue 1 matches
- Enrique's CL Win Rate: 63%
