Luis Enrique urges PSG to keep their heads in Le Classique
Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique has urged his players to keep cool heads ahead of their Ligue 1 clash against Marseille.
PSG head to the Orange Velodrome for Easter Sunday’s ‘Le Classique’, staged between two of France’s biggest club sides.
The visitors will be the favourites to emerge from the clash with another win on their unstoppable march towards the Ligue 1 title.
The Parisians are 12 points clear of second-placed Brest, and hold an aggregate 7-0 scoreline against Marseille in the last two head-to-heads.
But Enrique warned: “These are different matches, because of the rivalry between the clubs and the fans.
“You have to go into them highly motivated, and you have to be able to manage your nerves and stay calm.
“I’m very aware of the importance of Le Classique for the players, the fans and the club. My job is to ensure that everything goes as well as possible for us.
“Our aim is to win, to keep getting closer to the title and to beat our rivals. We want to go to Marseille to be competitive, and we are concentrating on our strengths, on what we know how to do, to win matches.”
Kylian Mbappe told PSG just last month that he will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
PSG have endured three draws in the five league matches since the France international’s decision.
However, during that period, PSG have also booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and broke up for the international fixtures with a thumping 6-2 win at Montpellier, with Mbappe scoring a hat-trick.
But Enrique was dealt an injury blow during the international break, with winger Bradley Barcola sidelined for the foreseeable future after he picked up a muscular injury while on duty for France Under-23s.
“I can’t talk about the length of Bradley Barcola’s absence because it is in the hands of the medical staff,” added Enrique.
“But after this international break, almost all the players are ready. We’re at a pivotal point in the season.
“We have to think of the team first, which takes priority over personal interests. But I’m pleasantly surprised by everyone’s physical condition, especially in training.”
Marseille manager Jean-Louis Gasset oversaw a five-game winning sequence on his arrival at the club, but his side host the champions following successive defeats against Villarreal in the Europa League, and at Rennes in Ligue 1. They are seventh in the table.
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Newcastle 4-3 West Ham: Player ratings as late Barnes brace earns Magpies chaotic win
Newcastle beat West Ham in a classic on Saturday thanks to late Harvey Barnes brace
Magpies were 3-1 down after goals Alexander Isak, Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen
Anthony Gordon sent off late on in game filled with VAR drama and injuries
By Katie Catherall
3:23 PM GMT
Two late Barnes goals earned Newcastle the win over West Ham
Two late Barnes goals earned Newcastle the win over West Ham / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Newcastle enjoyed a chaotic return to the Premier League as they came from behind to beat West Ham with two late goals from stellar substitute Harvey Barnes in Saturday's early kick-off.
The already-depleted Magpies were hit with injuries throughout the clash at St James' Park but Eddie Howe's changes proved useful as his substitutions made some of the biggest impacts.
A game of pure chaos, both sides were given chance to lead, yet Newcastle stormed ahead to secure victory.
How the game unfolded
Newcastle were quick to open the scoring after a clumsy foul by Vladimir Coufal knocked Anthony Gordon to the ground, awarding a penalty to the Magpies in the first two minutes of the game. A simple shot was delivered by Alexander Isak, reaching the back of the net with ease.
A perfect start from Newcastle quickly turned sour, as captain Jamaal Lascelles suffered a knee collision and collapsed. He tried to run it off but was soon forced off the pitch, prompting Emil Krafth to come on in his place.
A change of shape was thrust upon Howe's side as Krafth slotted in at right-back, with Tino Livramento moving to left-back and Dan Burn sitting in the centre.
The Hammers took advantage of Newcastle's changes to defence, charging up the pitch and utilising their high press to gain a goal back. A ball over the top from Lucas Paqueta picked out Michail Antonio, who produced a stunning finish to equalise.
Ten minutes were added to the first half due to VAR checks and Lascelles' injury, but Newcastle wasted no time in creating another chance. Jacob Murphy found Bruno Guimaraes, who aimed a powerful shot at the bar. Play was immediately switched as Burn chased down Mohammed Kudus to prevent him from scoring.
Kudus refused to be silenced however, as just minutes later a free kick reached him and he was able to fire a shot into the back of the net.
When the game resumed after the break, Bowen confirmed he is indeed on fire, lashing a clinical shot towards the Newcastle goal to gift the Hammers a 3-1 lead.
The Magpies returned with confidence as a foul on Gordon handed them another penalty, which Isak scored with ease. The home side's momentum had clearly picked up and with just seven minutes to go Barnes secured another goal for Newcastle, bringing the scoreline to 3-3.
He became possibly the best substitution of the game when Barnes smashed in another in the 90th minute, gifting Newcastle three much-needed points at the end of a entertainment-filled spectacle.
Newcastle player ratings (4-3-3)
Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn
Newcastle returned to the Premier League with a bang / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
GK: Martin Dubravka - 5/10 - Struggled to save the Hammers' shots.
RB: Tino Livramento - 4/10 - Subbed off through injury and seemed stranded during the Bowen goal.
CB: Jamaal Lascelles - N/A - Subbed off 17 minutes in.
CB: Fabian Schar - 7/10 - Solid at the back, composed amongst chaos.
LB: Dan Burn - 8/10 - Super versatile, experienced.
CM: Sean Longstaff - 6/10 - Big missed chance but good energy.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes - 7/10 - Touches of quality towards the end.
CM: Joe Willock - 6/10 - Came off after the first hour, did well to get around the pitch.
RW: Jacob Murphy - 7/10 - Quality crosses, high energy down the right hand side.
CF: Alexander Isak - 9/10 - Two goals and a great assist, sorted.
LW: Anthony Gordon - 9/10 - Unreal, player of the match, but was also sent off.
Substitutes
SUB: Emil Krafth (17' for Lascelles) - 7/10
SUB: Miguel Almiron (56' for Livramento) - 6/10
SUB: Elliot Anderson (57' Willock) - 6/10
SUB: Lewis Hall (57' for Krafth) - 6/10
SUB: Harvey Barnes (67' for Almiron) - 9/10
Subs not used: Loris Karius, Paul Dummett, Joe White, Matt Ritchie.
Manager
Eddie Howe - 8/10 - Substituted well considering injuries, with Barnes eventually winning his side the match.
West Ham player ratings (4-2-3-1)
West Ham
The Hammers showed strength / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
GK: Alphonse Areola - 6/10 - Played well until he was hauled off.
RB: Vladimir Coufal - 2/10 - A clumsy foul on Gordon awarded Newcastle their first goal of the game.
CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos - 8/10 - Sensational, denied an Isak goal and proved to be a force in defence.
CB: Kurt Zouma - 7/10 - Fantastic, so enjoyable to watch.
LB: Emerson - 5/10 - Indifferent, didn't add too much.
DM: James Ward-Prowse - 6/10 - Very quiet on the pitch.
DM: Tomas Soucek - 7/10 - Quality performance, strong in midfield.
RW: Jarrod Bowen - 8/10 - Earned his 15th Premier League goal of the season in this game, fantastic player.
AM: Lucas Paqueta - 8/10 - Incredible baller, assisted the first stunning goal for Antonio.
LW: Mohammed Kudus - 8/10 - Clinical performance. Put the Hammers ahead right before the break.
ST: Michail Antonio - 9/10 - Put West Ham back in the game quickly with a stunning equaliser.
Substitutes
SUB: Lukasz Fabianksi (45' for Areola) - 6/10
SUB: Kalvin Phillips (69' for Antonio) - 3/10
SUB: Ben Johnson (84' for Ward-Prowse) - 7/10
SUB: Danny Ings (90' for Coufal) - N/A
Subs not used: Aaron Cresswell, Angelo Ogbonna, George Earthy, Maxwel Cornet, Divin Mubama.
Manager
David Moyes - 7/10 - Ultimately did well, but may regret bringing on Kalvin Phillips.
Player of the match - Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Anthony Gordon
Gordon was electric / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
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