By Humberto Viera
Sep 23, 2023, 3:11 PM EDT
The Spanish Luis Enrique Martínez, coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), told a funny anecdote with the Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi in the preview of the French classic against Olympique Marseille, the first big test of the Iberian strategist.
Luis Enrique assured that Hakimi, a PSG player, still jokes about Morocco’s victory against Spain in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (0-0, 3-0 on penalties).
The then Spain coach in that World Cup recalled the anecdote when a journalist asked him about the Moroccan Azzedine Ounahi, a Marseille midfielder whom the Asturian coach praised after the elimination of La Roja.
“For us it is not a great joy to talk about that match, but nothing happens either, it was a match played to the maximum, in which Morocco fought, defended very well, in particular Ounahi, who did so in a formidable way. Hakimi was also in that group, who still jokes with me about that game,” said the former Barcelona coach.
Regarding this Sunday’s classic at the Parc des Princes, Luis Enrique indicated that Marseille’s institutional crisis (Marcelino García-Toral resigned as coach and president Pablo Longoria could be close to doing the same) can have a positive or negative impact at the match.
“We are prepared for any situation, the greatness of a team is knowing how to adapt,” recalled the Spaniard.
Now led by Jacques Abardadonado, Marseille had a great game on Thursday in the Europa League by drawing 3-3 in Amsterdam against Ajax.
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