Enrique admits PSG penalty shootout crisis before Barcelona clash

Luis Enrique, the head coach of Paris Saint-Germain, has openly acknowledged a recurring issue with penalty execution within his squad. This admission follows Ousmane Dembele’s failed attempt during the team's 3-1 victory over Strasbourg in Ligue 1, occurring just ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled match against Barcelona.

Coach cites lack of specialist

In post-match comments, the Spanish manager stated that the club currently does not possess a designated expert for taking penalties. He noted that despite this deficiency and recent misses, PSG remains capable of securing wins and overcoming such errors on the pitch.

"It is true, we lack a penalty specialist," Enrique clarified. While he recognized that several players are technically capable of performing the task, he emphasized the ongoing need for an individual who demonstrates consistent effectiveness and reliability in this specific role.

Recent missed opportunities

Dembele’s failure to convert from the spot against Strasbourg came only days after Ferran Torres missed a penalty in the Champions League fixture against Manchester City. Although PSG won that encounter 4-2, Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Torres’ shot, highlighting a pattern of missed chances.

The trend continued in other competitions as well. Desire Doue failed to score a penalty against Le Mans, even though PSG ultimately secured a 3-1 win in that matchup. In the same game, Lucas Beraldo successfully converted his penalty, underscoring the inconsistency among the attacking line regarding set-piece duties.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also contributed to this list of misses while representing Georgia. He failed to capitalize on a penalty opportunity during a 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland, adding another international instance where PSG forwards could not exploit scoring chances from the twelve-yard mark.

Impact on upcoming fixtures

Despite these repeated failures, the inability to convert penalties has not prevented Paris Saint-Germain from winning their most recent matches. However, this statistical anomaly adds a layer of complexity to the team’s preparation for upcoming high-stakes encounters, where minor details often determine outcomes.

Enrique elaborated on his tactical options for future assignments. "We have many players who are good at shooting them, but it is true that we lack one specific player," he said. He pointed to Vitinha, Ousmane [Dembele], and others as viable candidates, asserting that the squad possesses sufficient depth to handle the responsibility.

Contrast with European final success

The current struggle stands in contrast to PSG’s performance in the recent UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal. In that decisive contest, Gonzalo Ramos, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi, and Lucas Beraldo all successfully converted their penalties to clinch the title. Nuno Mendes was the sole exception, missing his kick during the shootout.