Luis Enrique dismissed the concept the Ballon d’Or ceremony was a distraction after Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock defeat to Marseille in Le Classique.
PSG had not misplaced an away league sport to Marseille since 2011, however got here unstuck this time round on the Stade Velodrome, with Nayaf Aguerd’s fourth-minute header proving sufficient for the hosts to say the spoils.
The sport had been pushed again sooner or later from Sunday attributable to storm warnings within the south of France, which means it clashed with the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, at which their injured ahead Ousmane Dembele was named the very best male participant on the planet, with PSG successful the Membership of the 12 months award and Luis Enrique claiming the Johan Cruyff Trophy.
Dembele was in a position to attend the ceremony together with Désiré Doué and Joao Neves, who’re additionally each coping with accidents.
However a number of PSG gamers who had been nominated for the Ballon d’Or had been unable attend because of the rescheduling of the Marseille sport.
Requested if that had performed on the minds of his gamers on the Stade Velodrome, Luis Enrique advised his post-game press convention: “I don’t agree. We pressed in a sensational means, in an unbelievable means.
“What we are able to criticise is the variety of easy errors we’ve made, an excessive amount of for this kind of sport. I’m not pleased with the end result however with the ambition, confidence and DNA of the crew, sure. And it’s regular to lose video games within the competitors. We don’t search for excuses.
“We all know what it’s wish to lose this type of sport, for us and the followers. We performed the very best sport we may.
“Marseille performed effectively with depth and high quality, it was laborious for each groups. That’s how high-level soccer is. It’s a disgrace for us however we should put together for the remainder of the season and attempt to proceed on our means, in all competitions.”
PSG’s first defeat of the season places them second in Ligue 1, with Monaco high of the desk on targets scored. Lyon and Strasbourg are additionally degree with the highest two on 12 factors.