Paris Saint-Germain’s stuttering start to the Ligue 1 season continued with a 2-1 home defeat to AS Monaco on Friday, leaving the club winless in its opening three league matches for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign.
Despite the worst season start in 14 years, coach Luis Enrique is far from pushing the panic button, brushing off immediate concerns to focus on his team’s performance and metrics.
“I’m pleased with what I’ve seen. It’s the beginning of the season. We’re not at our best yet, but we deserved to win this match. That’s football, it’s a s—ty sport. I’ve seen a lot of positive things. The xG [expected goals] are in our favor,” Luis Enrique said.
“How do I explain it? Football is sometimes inexplicable. I’d like to highlight the players’ mentality. It will be an exciting championship. We need to prepare for the future.”
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Friday’s setback at the Parc des Princes unfolded just hours after the defending champions announced major contract extensions, locking in Luis Enrique to stay through 2030 alongside several key players.
The result leaves Monaco atop the table as the only team with a 100% record through three games. PSG adds this defeat to earlier consecutive 2-2 draws against Rennes and Lille, compounding a French Super Cup loss to Lens last month.
PSG appeared headed for its first victory when Marquinhos opened the scoring in the 31st minute. However, Monaco rallied after the break, with Flavio Názinho equalizing before Stanis Idumbo struck the winner in the 72nd.
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“Against Monaco in recent years, we’ve struggled to win,” PSG defender Lucas Hernández said. “We need to refocus for the Champions League; it’s our competition. I have confidence in this team and this coach.”
U.S. striker Folarin Balogun was left out of Monaco’s squad following the collapse of his proposed transfer to Everton this week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
