Luis Enrique refused to attend an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday night in order to focus on his preparations for the Champions League final against Arsenal.
PSG are looking to win the Champions League for a second successive season as they face Arsenal in the final in Budapest on May 30.
Luis Enrique, meanwhile, lost out to Lens’ Pierre Sage for Ligue 1’s Coach of the Year at the UNFP awards, which were held at the Palais Brongniart.
Ousmane Dembele was named Ligue 1’s Player of the Season, while Desire Doue won the award for Best Young Player.
Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha and Dembele were all named in Ligue 1’s Team of the Season, but Luis Enrique opted not to show up to the ceremony to see his players pick up their trophies.
When asked why he did not attend the awards show on Monday night, Luis Enrique said during his press conference on Tuesday: ‘I never go to these kinds of events, I prefer to stay home, I need to study Arsenal.
Get personalised football updates every day
Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more about your favourite team.
‘But I’m very happy to see PSG players recognised, it’s well deserved. Those who win trophies do so because they deserve them. Congratulations to Pierre Sage, who deserved the best coach award. What he did this season at Lens is incredible.’
PSG have already won the Ligue 1 title and travel to second-placed Lens on Wednesday in their penultimate league game of the campaign.
Luis Enrique is expected to heavily rotate his side ahead of their final Ligue 1 game of the season away to Paris FC this Sunday. The Champions League holders will then have a two-week gap before they play Arsenal in the final.
‘Both teams are approaching this moment with similar circumstances, knowing that they will be playing the Coupe de France final, and us, the Champions League final,’ Luis Enrique said.
PSG fixtures
Lens (A) | Ligue 1 | May 13
Paris FC (A) | Ligue 1 | May 17
Arsenal (N) | Champions League final | May 30
‘The playing time for tomorrow’s match will be different. We need individual information on each player to make a decision. And I think Pierre Sage will do the same as me, taking advantage of tomorrow’s match.
‘It’s a celebration for French football between the two best teams of the season. We’ll play a very entertaining match. We’ll be looking to show our level. And Lens will want to do the same. It will be a very interesting match.
‘We have to know how to manage the last two matches. The problem is that the Lens match comes three days after the Brest match. It’s very short.
PSG current injuries
Achraf Hakimi | Hamstring injury | Five games missed
Lucas Chevalier | Hamstring injury | Three games missed
Nuno Mendes | Dead leg | One game missed
William Pacho | Dead leg | One game missed
Warren Zaire-Emery | Back injury | One game missed
Quentin Ndjantou | Hamstring injury | 28 games missed
‘We have injured players and others who have played two matches in a row. We have to manage it. Three days is the shortest time between two matches. We will aim to manage it individually, as we have always done this season.
‘Tomorrow, we will show what kind of team we are, our ambition. Every time we wear the PSG jersey, it’s a responsibility. Tomorrow, I see it as a celebration, in one of the best stadiums in France in terms of atmosphere. We are motivated to play this match. And it’s the best preparation to reach the Champions League final.
‘We’ll play a match the weekend before the final. We’ll prepare for the training load. But I’m not worried. When your goal is a Champions League final, you’re ready after a month or even a day of rest. It won’t be a problem.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.