Since the start of the QSI era, Paris Saint-Germain have often been criticized for having no identity in their game. There was indeed the era of Laurent Blanc’s 4-3-3 (2013 -2016), with a team still considered today as the most complete of the Qatari era. Other than that, Paris have mostly relied on the individual exploits of the stars in their squad. A plan that has often exploded in full flight in the Champions League (except in 2020 and 2021). Logically, we do not joke with a competition where the strength of the collective is essential. In the end, each coach promised changes, to no avail.
“The team must always play the same way”
Today, since the club from the capital really seems to want to break its codes, the arrival of Luis Enrique marks a (small) turning point, because Paris has offered itself a coach with a very strong style. Crowned King of Europe in 2015 with FC Barcelona, ​​the Spaniard is a coach whose teams display incredible possession of the ball, an incalculable number of passes. Praise to be balanced with a certain offensive inefficiency. After two official matches in Ligue 1, this trend was quickly confirmed. Against Lorient, PSG had 97% possession of the ball during the first ten minutes of the match (nearly 80% at the end of the match) and had 1001 assists against 286! Against Toulouse, same scenario. 76% possession and 767 assists against 232. But in the end, Paris did not win either of their two games and only scored a small goal, from the penalty spot. To dominate so much for so little result, the observation is frustrating. However, at a time when some Spanish media are already pointing the finger at Luis Enrique, the new strongman of the Rouge et Bleu is not the type to be swayed by criticism.
In a long interview with Paris Saint-Germainthe former La Roja coach spoke about the style he intends to impose on Kylian MbappĂ©’s teammates. “We have an idea. To be a dominating team, a team that has the ball much more than the opponent. So we don’t leave space for our opponents. We want to have the ball quickly for ourselves. It’s like school. If there is a ball, it is either for you or for your opponent. The ball is ours and from there we try to dominate the game not to change our minds. We play the same throughout the game. Then we win, we lose, we draw. But there are things that don’t change. We can’t tell ourselves that we’re going to go out and see what’s going to happen, no. That’s not the goal, the team must always play the same way on any pitch, in any game, in any stadium, in any competition, whatever. But just because you have the same general idea doesn’t mean you play the same way.”.
surprise the opponent
A desire to stifle the opponent with constant pressing, but also a desire to surprise him with choices that may surprise. We can thus think of the positioning of Vitinha and Kang-in Lee on the wings (against Toulouse), the repositioning of Achraf Hakimi on the left flank during the game against the TFC while the Moroccan is a pure right-hander. Surprising choices that have been more or less successful. But one thing is certain: they will not be the last. Known for having lined up starting eleven with La Roja without a real striker, Luis Enrique is not a beginner in tactical bets. And there’s a reason for that.
“We try to dominate the game, not be dominated. We always try to put pressure so that the opponent doesn’t have time, so that he looks at his watch and says to himself: “they have already taken the ball”. It’s important and from there we attack in different ways. We occupy spaces, we change positions and we are totally unpredictable. That’s the goal: sometimes we attack more with a full-back, sometimes with a winger, sometimes more with an inside player, sometimes more with the nine. We move the ball around and occupy different spaces. It is very difficult for the opponent. We’re going to attack, we’re going to press, we’re going to defend, we’re going to create chances. I don’t know how many matches we will win, I don’t know how many titles, but we will fight for all the titles, that’s for sure. » No one knows what will be the balance sheet of the Spaniard at the end of the season, but no one can take away his convictions pegged to the body.
