Luis Enrique revealed that there is no additional pressure on the shoulders of Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, who has enjoyed a fine start to the Ligue 1 season.
Barcola took his tally to eight goals in nine league appearances in PSG's 3-0 triumph over rivals Marseille last weekend.
The France international has now scored nine goals in his last 10 Ligue 1 games, more than in his first 64 (eight).
Barcola, top scorer in the division this term, is also one goal away from equalling his tally over his previous three seasons in the top-flight (nine goals in 65 games).
"I don't know and I'm not worried," Luis Enrique told reporters when asked how far Barcola can go. "But when he doesn't score, others will, that's how teams work.
"There's no extra responsibility, everyone has to protect everyone, there can't be one player under more pressure."
Barcola has also completed more dribbles (18) than any of his PSG team-mates, subsequently seeing fellow forward Randal Kolo Muani drop to the bench.
Kolo Muani joined the Parisiens from Einthract Frankfurt last year and has scored 11 goals and added six assists in 50 appearances in all competitions.
However, the 25-year-old has started just two games for Luis Enrique's side this term, with recent reports linking him with a move away from the Ligue 1 champions.
"I trust what I see in matches and in training. With a coach like me, a player who isn't playing can turn his situation around by the way he trains," Luis Enrique said.
PSG welcome Lens to the Parc des Princes this Saturday, hoping to maintain their three point advantage at the summit of the standings.
They have won their last three games against Lens in Ligue 1 and could equal their best run against them in the top-flight (four in 1983-1984, 1993-1994 and 1996-1997).
Lloris demands improvements as he seeks to complete LAFC 'mission'
Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has demanded more from his team-mates if they are to replicate their U.S. Open Cup triumph in the MLS playoffs.
LAFC edged the first game of their best-of-three series against the Vancouver Whitecaps, with Denis Bouanga and Cristian Olivera on target for Steve Cherundolo’s side.
But Lloris, who joined the Black and Gold from Tottenham almost a year ago, was not impressed by his side’s showing and insists they must improve when they travel to BC Place.
"The performance is not enough, but we got the result so that's the most important thing," Lloris said.
"I think we need to increase our level if we want to have a mission. A win is a win, so that's positive."
"If we want to have a mission in this MLS Cup [playoffs], we need to do even better. "But I believe. We can do it.
"We need to realise that a game like tonight, we didn't feel safe until the end. So we have to do better."
Defender Aaron Long echoed Lloris’ thoughts, saying: “It’s definitely a job's-not-done mentality. We have one more game, potentially two more games.
"But I think a lot of us weren't happy giving up that goal late as well.”
“We want to finish that in a professional manner and end the game 2-0, even if it doesn't carry over on aggregate.
"At least as a defender, that subdued me a tiny bit. But we'll look at the film again, a great win at home, and on to the next one.”
For Vanni Sartini, meanwhile, he acknowledged that his side were the better team in Game 1, but said that even playing well against LAFC, who topped the Western Conference in the regular season, would not be good enough.
But knowing they must win the game to keep their playoff campaign rolling, Sartini wants that little bit extra from his players, something he hopes will come from the home supporters inside BC Place.
“The main takeaway from the game is that playing well is probably not enough against them. We need to play well like we did in the last game, but we also need to have a little bit extra,” Sartini said.
“That can be the extra performance of individuals or even the extra courage that we need to have when we are attacking. I think we need this kind of extra.
“Hopefully, playing at home is going to help us win the game on Sunday.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld
Gauld scored Vancouver’s only goal on Sunday after netting a hat-trick in the Wild Card Round against Portland Timbers in midweek.
The Scot is the first player in the Whitecaps’ MLS history to score in consecutive playoff matches.
LAFC - Denis Bouanga
Bouanga has scored in all three of his postseason meetings with the Whitecaps, the sixth player in MLS history to score in three straight playoff games against a single opponent.
No player in league history has scored in four straight postseason games against a single team, though the Gabon international will have his eyes set on making history this time around.
MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN
LAFC have won three of their last four away matches against Vancouver in all competitions (D1), including a 1-0 win in last season’s playoffs and a 2-1 win in October in the league. LAFC had won only one of their first five road matches against Vancouver (L4).
They have also won seven straight matches in all competitions dating back to winning the US Open Cup Final in late September. LAFC has won 26 of their last 36 matches in all competitions (D5 L5) dating back to late April after opening the season with four wins in 11 games (D3 L4).
The Whitecaps, meanwhile, will be looking to return to winning ways at home. They have lost three straight home matches in all competitions for the first time since July 2019. Since joining MLS in 2011, Vancouver have never suffered four straight home defeats in all competitions.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Vancouver Whitecaps – 28.4%
Draw – 24.4%
LAFC – 47.2%
Girona will improve when injured players return, insists Michel
Girona head coach Michel insisted that his side will rediscover the form that earned them Champions League football last season once their injured players return.
Girona find themselves 13th in the LaLiga standings after 11 games this season, but have been hit with several injuries to a plethora of first-team starters.
The likes of Oriol Romeu, Jhon Solis, Portu, Yaser Asprilla, Ivan Martin, Abel Ruiz, Viktor Tsygankov, Pau Lopez, Cristhian Stuani and Yangel Herrera have all missed significant amounts of game time already this term.
Michel, however, is expected to welcome Romeu, Stuani and Herrera back into the side for the visit of Leganes, who are one place below them in the table.
But the Girona head coach insisted he would not rush players back into first-team action, but is hoping to welcome more of his injury absentees back for their Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven next week.
"I am a realistic person and I look ahead. I have no doubt that when the injured recover, the team will be fine and will play well," Michel said.
"I can't predict what people think. We will be a competitive team that can beat anyone.
"Stuani, Romeu and Herrera are back. Jastin and Tsygankov are not far away and Lopez might be available for Tuesday's (Champions League) game against PSV.
"You have players who are close to returning, but we want them to recover well and to be really ready..."
Girona are without a win in consecutive games in LaLiga, but did get themselves a much-needed victory in the Copa del Rey, sweeping aside CD Extremadura 4-0.
And that will give them confidence of returning to winning ways in the league, and they boast an impressive record against this weekend's opponents.
They have not lost any of their four matches against Leganes in the league (W2 D2), keeping a clean sheet in all of them.
Kobel ruled out of Leipzig clash, but Sahin confident of Dortmund revival
Nuri Sahin confirmed that Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel will miss their upcoming Bundesliga fixture with RB Leipzig this weekend.
Kobel, who has kept four clean sheets in 13 appearances in all competitions this season, sustained a hip injury in Tuesday's DFB Pokal defeat to Wolfsburg.
The Switzerland international becomes the latest name to be sidelined for Dortmund, who have failed to win their last three games in all competitions.
Sahin is already without Karim Adeyemi, Julien Duranville, Gio Reyna, Kjell Watjen, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, and Yan Couto, among others.
"Clearly it is a difficult situation with the defeats and the Cup exit, a competition we had high expectations for," Sahin told a press conference.
"The injury list with this squad is extremely bitter. With Greg (Kobel) out now we have 10 players out.
"Ten players injured. That's something I have not experienced before. How do we get out of it? We won't hide behind excuses. The lads are well prepared."
Dortmund come into the encounter after earning 13 points from their first eight games, their worst start to a Bundesliga season since 2014-15.
Sahin's struggles have been away from home in the league this term, failing to win any of their five games while also conceding 10 goals during those matches.
But they have won each of their last eight home games in all competitions, their longest run since between November 2022 and May 2023 (11).
Dortmund are the only team yet to drop a point at home in the Bundesliga this season (four home wins) and have collected 12 of their 13 points at the Westfalenstadion.
And Sahin is confident that their run on home soil will help them stop their current losing streak.
"We are well prepared and we play at home. And at home it is difficult to beat us," Sahin said.
"I know my role and the players know their roles. We have to go through this. We have to work our way out of this situation."
"We need the stadium tomorrow more than ever. I'm sure the stadium will have a feel for our situation. We want to continue our home streak."
However, Dortmund have lost six of their last seven competitive games against RB Leipzig, with their only win coming in a 2-1 victory in the 2022-23 campaign.
They had previously gone on an eight-match unbeaten run against Die Roten Bullen in all competitions (W6, D2).
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