Luis Enrique at PSG, it’s official. We talked about Julian Nagelsmann, José Mourinho, Xabi Alonso, Marcelo Gallardo or even Thiago Motta. Non-exhaustive list. Finally, it is therefore the 53-year-old Spanish technician who took over from Christophe Galtier on the bench of the club with 11 French championship titles. After the porridge to which they have been entitled for several years, under Mauricio Pochettino (2020-21) and “Galette” (2021-22), the regulars of the Parc des Princes will probably not complain. “Lucho” is the promise of a quality of play that is probably much higher. An assumed, assertive style and well-known tactical designs. However, his appointment will not only make people happy.
WINNERS
Neymar and PSG, it’s I love you neither. And this since his debut under the colors of Paris, in 2017. Everything has been said about the Brazilian and his future for a few weeks, about his intentions or those of his leaders. In the end, the arrival of Luis Enrique can only satisfy him. Or even relaunch it altogether. It was under the orders of the Spaniard that he flourished under the colors of Barça, from 2014 to 2017, notably crucifying Paris Saint-Germain during the famous comeback. Obviously, the old nugget of Santos has changed since. Slower, heavier, less able to play on the wing. His technical quality could, however, serve the plans of Luis Enrique well. Why not in the middle three? A hypothesis that cannot be ruled out, especially if Mbappé stays (see elsewhere). Neymar, big winner of the arrival of Luis Enrique? We will see if this claim stands the test of time. The Spanish technician does not skimp on discipline and invisible work. Not exactly the 31-year-old Brazil international’s forte…
Same observation as for Neymar. As for the game, Marco Verratti should quickly establish himself as one of the strong links in Luis Enrique’s midfield. He has it all. In the Spaniard’s possession game, the Italian midfielder – courted by Saudi Arabia – will be like a duck to water, that’s for sure. Pep Guardiola has already said he is “in love” with the Little Owl. “Lucho” should quickly feel the same things about him. To see if the Spaniard will appreciate the bad habits of the Italian outside the meadow, from his regular night outings to his addiction to tobacco. Rhetorical question.
If there’s one coach for whom age doesn’t matter, it’s Luis Enrique. The 53-year-old technician has shown it in his previous clubs or in the Spanish national team, he does not hesitate to throw in the deep end even very young players if he considers that they have the level to compete. express. No reason to imagine that Warren Zaire-Emery will not continue to shine next season. We can even think that “Lucho” will rely more than its predecessors on the training center. Still it will be necessary that the titis are at the level. One thing is certain: the door to the first team will be open to them.
Marco Asensio, good pick? To have. The 27-year-old Spanish international has never really confirmed his potential at Real Madrid. Luis Enrique, however, maintained his confidence in him during his tenure as head of the Spain team. “He’s a top player,” he said of him recently. With another coach, Asensio should have first convinced that he has a place in Paris. “Lucho”, he will not need a booster shot.
LOSERS
Make no mistake: with Luis Enrique or any other coach, Kylian Mbappé will score goals like pearls. “Cornerstone of the project and of the club”, according to NAK, the crack of Bondy could however lose some of his privileges with the appointment of the Spanish technician, who was not impressed either by Francesco Totti at Roma, or by Leo Messi at Barça… Except that “KM” needs space to give the best of itself. This is why the previous Parisian coaches have adopted a tactic rather based on transition. Didier Deschamps, he did not need to force his nature to speak about his qualities as a counter-attacker. With the philosophy of Luis Enrique, it will be something else. The former Barcelona coach wants possession, sometimes to excess, as we saw at the World Cup. He will ask his block to play as high as possible, even if he is a fan of a more direct game than Pep Guardiola for example. Clearly, Mbappé would probably have had more fun with Julian Nagelsmann or José Mourinho. It remains to be seen whether the captain of the Blues will still be a Parisian on recovery. It’s not played yet.
Admittedly, this will not be the first time that Achraf Hakimi has played in a four-man defense. He has already done it at PSG and of course in the national team. This was particularly the case during the World Cup in Qatar, where the former Madrid player was voted the best right-back in the competition. Nevertheless, its profile corresponds more to a role of piston. And with Lucho, it will be the four-man defense. He will have to come to terms with it. Note that we have not seen a big change in terms of level between the Hakimi of a four-man defense and that of a five-man back line under the colors of Paris-SG, he who has often been just satisfactory . In the end, he may not have much to lose… We could express the same concerns on the left for Nuno Mendes, but the Portuguese is not the type to hide, whether at four or five behind. He has shown it in Paris since his arrival from Sporting.
The profile of Fabian Ruiz fits perfectly with the playing aspirations of his new coach. Launched with the Spanish A by Roberto Moreno, the former Barcelona and Napoli continued to be called upon when Luis Enrique returned to head La Roja. His last match, however, dates from the round of 16 of Euro 2020 (in 2021) against Croatia. He did not come into play afterwards and was no longer called up for selection after the European championship, in particular watching the World Cup on television. We never really knew the reason for this exclusion. However, we can imagine that the Asturian technician has no more intention of trusting the Andalusian environment in the club than in the Spanish national team…
Last year, PSG played five behind… without having enough defenders. This time it’s quite the opposite: Luis Enrique will have four world-class centre-backs between Marquinhos, Milan Skriniar, Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, not to mention Nordi Mukiele or titi El Chadaille Bitshiabu, while… he swears by four-man defense. We can very well imagine Lucas Hernandez competing with Nuno Mendes on the left, his position in the France team. He is equally good in both roles. If the now ex-Bavarian has to evolve in the axis, it will be to the detriment of “Presko”, which would be the big loser of the return of the defense to four. Skriniar could quickly become disillusioned too…
