PSG: Luis Enrique reveals the behind the scenes of his method in the Champions League

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By: Manu Tournoux

Paris Saint-Germain’s last season had a special dimension. In fact, for Luis Enrique’s first year in Paris, the capital club agreed to have the Spanish coach followed by the Movistar Plus+ cameras throughout the season. The documentary “You have no fucking idea”as this three-part series is called, will be broadcast successively on September 30, October 7 and October 14. The aim is to bring viewers closer to the routine of the charismatic Asturian coach during his first season with the Parisian team with topics such as his bond with Kylian Mbappé, the complicated and lonely management of criticism, his experience at the helm of the national team, the suffering of the Champions League match against Barça and the emotional memory of his daughter Xana, who died of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. To promote this production in his honor, Movistar+ broadcast this Monday evening in Spain an exclusive interview with the former Barça coach who says more about the start of the season for PSG.

Asked by the Spanish channel, Luis Enrique returns to his ability to bring his team together at half-time when PSG has its back to the wall: “This is my job. To help my team when they are going through a difficult time. I like to contribute in difficult moments. You always have to try to find the right message for the players. One thing that is very important for a coach, and what we are working on, is that the messages at half-time are what the team needs and not the coach. There is always criticism. It is a message that you have to forget that everyone has to like you. It is important for me to show the daily life and the details of my family and myself. Helping a player who lacks confidence keeps me alive and active. Like when there is criticism. I prefer that they speak well of me. There is no doubt“, he said. Always ready to answer journalists at press conferences, the former Spain coach spoke in detail about his Parisian adventure since his arrival in the summer of 2023.

Efficiency before the show!

After the victory snatched at the last second on a goalless goal against Girona (1-0) at the Parc des Princes, the Gijon native has received some initial criticism for this start to the season which was nevertheless very good. Luis Enrique returned to this match precisely to better explain his management of his group in close matches although dominated by his players: “The low points must be those that the team needs. You have to look for the general mechanisms, but then individual ones. The obligation to win the Champions League has been present for a long time at PSG. It eats away at you. Marquinhos acknowledged in the press conference that they needed it. You have to try to help the team in difficult moments. For example, the speech against Girona focused on positive reinforcement on confidence… I understand that what they call the ‘show’, but I do what the team needs. A camera in a locker room conditions, but in the series you will see moments that we decided to share with you” he said.

Fully involved in Luis Campos’ Parisian project, Luis Enrique explained the reasons for his visit: “When they hire me, I have to convince the people in charge, the president and Luis Campos, that this is the right path. With the previous players, I wouldn’t have come. They didn’t need me for that. I came because the circumstances were what I wanted. I said: ‘if there are these players, I’ll come’. But with complete freedom. The idea was to return to this path. In the future, we will try not to pay exorbitant amounts to players who don’t have that price. It’s not good for the footballer or for sporting health. When I spoke to Luis Campos for the first time, I told him very clearly that if I came, there would be a change of model. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to Paris Saint-Germain. Total, absolute freedom? Yes? Well, I’m going. We don’t want to pay exorbitant amounts for players who are worthless.“His PSG is, as he himself recognizes, in identity reconstruction with an obsession for the C1.

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