Quickly, it became obvious. Before the start of the clash between Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain, most observers were concerned about the tactical plan chosen by Luis Enrique. Often put in difficulty when their opponent presses them, the Parisian team knew they were expected at St James’ Park. And everyone knew that the Magic were going to show crazy intensity in front of a crowd ready to explode, after having spent 20 years without seeing the Champions League on their lawn.
Landing on Tyneside with a 4-2-4 therefore logically appeared to be a risky bet. Was Paris going to have the weapons to defeat the Toons with a slimmed-down midfield and a strengthened attack, but made up of players little known for their defensive withdrawal? The response was clear and clear: 4-1 for the Magpies, an overwhelmed Parisian midfielder and a Kylian Mbappé below everything. When he arrived at a press conference, Luis Enrique suspected that the journalists present were going to talk tactics to him.
Locked in his ideas at the 2022 World Cup
And guess what? The Spaniard once again recalled that he did not particularly like the media and therefore enjoyed contradicting them. “We were good under pressure from Newcastle. We have the first opportunity with Ousmane. But I honestly think the result is a little unfair, not totally unfair. The result is excessive, but I congratulate Newcastle”he declared, before asserting without trembling that his 4-2-4 was the best option for his team “because I thought it was the best and I still think so. » Is Luis Enrique a real mulehead? Is he really ready to stick to his guns, even if he is wrong, just to contradict his detractors?
In Spain, this stubbornness is not new. Recently, the technician from Gijon “heated” the local press after being pitifully taken out in the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup by Morocco. An elimination which had triggered a wave of criticism on the surprising, but assumed choices of the former coach of La Roja. Before the competition, Luis Enrique had tested midfielder Rodri in central defense. The conductor of Manchester City had even performed well, but no one had understood a choice that was penalizing for the creation of the game and above all destabilizing for the starting central defenders. Then, when it was time to take off for the Middle East, he chose to go to Qatar with just one striker, Alvaro Morata, leaving the three top scorers in La Liga at the time (Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias and Joselu).
He also stood up to Messi
Result: Spain enjoyed enormous possession of the ball, but struggled terribly to score. This excessively sterile possession game, made almost entirely of lateral passes, sometimes even veered into caricature. However, after the group stage, Luis Enrique assured: “at no time are we going to change our idea”, before being let out through the back door, locked in his ideas. Before that, he had created controversy in his country on May 24, 2021. That day, while he could select up to 26 players, Luis Enrique only took 24 and above all chose not to select any player from the Real Madrid ! A total surprise and a snub for Casa Blanca which had never experienced this while several elements (Nacho, Marco Asensio, Sergio Ramos) were selectable. To defend himself, Luis Enrique explained that they were all out of shape.
Finally, the man who coached FC Barcelona between 2014 and 2017 also knew how to be inflexible against the undisputed star of the Blaugrana club, Lionel Messi. On January 2, 2015, the two men had a falling out in training. Two days later, Luis Enrique installed His Majesty Messi on the bench for the match against Real Sociedad. The Basques had led since the second minute, but it was not until the second period that Luis Enrique decided to bring in the Pulga. Which did not prevent Barça from losing (0-1). Annoyed by his coach’s decision, the Argentinian claimed gastroenteritis to skip training the next day. Let it be said: Luis Enrique does what he wants, with everyone.
