'He wasn't bad, was he?' - Luis Enrique hails new signing Ferran Torres as World Cup hero's debut brace saves PSG

Enrique was full of praise for his new recruit Torres after the Spanish international’s heroics earned a 2-2 draw against Rennes. Following his match-winning performance in the World Cup final just last month, Torres was introduced at half-time alongside Mika Godts, replacing Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the reigning champions trailed 2-0. The impact was instantaneous, with the Spaniard netting twice to ensure the Parisians did not start their title defence with a defeat.

Reflecting on the contribution of his new star signing, the PSG manager expressed his delight with how the debutant handled the pressure. "He wasn't bad, was he? He scored two goals, but I'm happy with everyone who came on in a very difficult match because we had a lot of trouble controlling Rennes in the first half," Enrique told reporters. "They were good on the counter-attack and scored two wonderful goals. It was complicated, but it's important for me to see that so many players are ready. We sign players to go on a long journey with them. It's very positive for him and we're very happy."

Despite the individual brilliance of Torres, the PSG boss was far from satisfied with the overall performance of his team during the first 45 minutes. The French giants appeared sluggish and struggled to deal with the intensity of their opponents, leading to a half-time double substitution that served as a wake-up call for the established starters. Enrique was quick to remind his squad that past successes and reputations will count for nothing in the quest for further domestic and European silverware this season.

"Football is like that. Paris Saint-Germain have won nothing, nothing," he stated. "If you think about what you've won, you're not going to win anything! There is no credit. You have to show every day, every match, every training session, that you're ready. Otherwise, it's easy to relax and start slipping. I wasn't brought up that way."

The arrival of Torres is part of a broader strategy by the PSG hierarchy to deepen the quality of the squad and ensure healthy competition for every position. Having already secured the European Super Cup earlier this month, despite a disappointing loss to Lens in the French version, the club is aiming to maintain their dominance in Ligue 1 while hunting for a third consecutive Champions League title. The manager believes the recent transfer activity has put them in a strong position to handle these lofty expectations.

Enrique noted that the battle for a place in the starting XI will be fiercer than ever this term, something he views as a necessity for a top club. "We're always looking to find the best players for every match. Places in the team will be more difficult to get than last year, and that's our ambition," he explained. "I think we had a very good transfer window, and we're still open to different possibilities. Everyone knows how difficult it is for a team to keep winning. And clearly, we still need to improve."

The decision to hook high-profile names like Dembele and Kvaratskhelia at the interval highlighted Enrique's willingness to take bold tactical risks to change the momentum of a game. By introducing Torres, he added a clinical edge that was missing in the opening period, eventually breaking down a resilient Rennes defence. As the Parisians look ahead to their upcoming fixtures, the focus remains on integrating the new signings while maintaining the high standards demanded by the coaching staff. Enrique's men look to secure their first three points of the Ligue 1 campaign next weekend against Lille.