The man who changed Paris
The Parisian sheds light on Luis Enrique, before the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal this Saturday. But what are the Spanish coach’s secrets? He established himself as the supreme guide of PSG thanks to a natural authority mixed with relaxed smiles. But the Asturian is not alone and his staff means a lot to him. Among them, Joaquín Valdés, his appointed sports psychologist, who helps him shape an ultra-competitive group that is impervious to pressure. This collective therapy has transformed PSG externally. He swept away the historic fear of major events with memorable victories on the pitches of Liverpool, London and Munich. Totally conquered by this cultural revolution which has placed the collective above individuals, the Parisian club’s staff has already sealed an agreement in principle to extend its coach until June 2030. Described as a “cold-blooded” assistant and endowed with “superior intelligence”, Rafael Pol is the discreet tactical mastermind who perfectly complements the volcanic temperament of Luis Enrique. Linked to the coach since the days of AS Roma, this 39-year-old Majorcan manages the video preparation and tactical sessions, with total complicity reinforced by shared personal challenges.
Spain explains Gordon choice for Barça
Mundo Deportivo describes Gordon’s qualities, to justify the choice of this player. Less academic than a classic winger, the former U21 Euro MVP destroys opposing defenses thanks to his powerful accelerations and his calls into space. This arrival will considerably boost the projection capacity of Barça, whose fastest player this season so far was Jules Koundé. Bought for 50 million euros by Newcastle, Anthony Gordon ended up silencing all the criticism through hard work. Experts like Rio Ferdinand admit to being wrong about him, impressed by his defensive intensity, his aggressiveness and his hunger for victories. His former coaches and selectors praise his verticality, his extraordinary speed and his unique ability to do high-intensity sprints. Described as a huge competitor by Eddie Howe, the England striker even received warm congratulations from José Mourinho himself. By joining FC Barcelona, this direct and ultra-generous player brings a perfect profile to dynamite La Liga defenses.
Arsenal’s state of fatigue singled out
The statistics condemn an exhausted Arsenal against the Parisian title holder. Although the two clubs have 63 games on the clock, Arteta’s executives like Raya, Rice, Zubimendi, Saliba, arrive flushed after a crazy race for the Premier League title. Conversely, Luis Enrique took advantage of a generally controlled Ligue 1 championship to run to the extreme and preserve his stars like Dembélé or Marquinhos. Proof of this management, not a single key PSG player has played more than half of the minutes available in the national championship this season. It now remains to be seen whether the freshness of the Parisians will make the difference.
