Luis Enrique is so good

Ten years after his historic feat with Barcelona, the Spanish strategist is quietly creating a new masterpiece - not from stars and money, but from philosophy, discipline and belief in the collective.

From the shadow of a superstar to the collective light

Here's a surprising statistic: PSG have now completed the most dribbles (339) in a Champions League season since... Luis Enrique's Barcelona a decade ago. It's no coincidence that the two teams with the highest dribble rate share the same coach, despite being separated by time, space and personnel.

"This is exactly Luis Enrique's team," said Oscar Garcia, a former Barcelona teammate. "He is enjoying his job more than ever. There is no longer a big star. The star is the team, the coach."

This transition marks a major turning point in PSG's history. From the days when Neymar, Messi and Mbappe coexisted - three separate geniuses who often seemed to play on a different pitch to the rest of the team - to a unified collective where all the gears operate in the same machine.

PSG under Luis Enrique are a beautiful contradiction: creative freedom and tactical discipline. A maturing goalkeeper, a well-coordinated defence, energetic full-backs and a trio of increasingly brilliant midfielders - all are indispensable notes in a complete symphony.

“He uses a false nine to create superiority and situations where there are extra men in midfield,” Oscar explains. It’s a subtle tactic that requires a deep understanding between players, not just of their positions but also of their intentions.

Ousmane Dembele has changed a lot under Luis Enrique.

Ousmane Dembele, once criticised for his lack of discipline and decisiveness, has had the best season of his career. Young talents Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue are developing at breakneck speed. The addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the “Georgian Messi”, has added variety and unpredictability to the squad.

PSG's style of play is both precise in its short passing and daring in its sudden bursts of movement. It is a delicate blend of Spanish tiki-taka control and South American football's explosive, emotional intensity - a perfect blend that reflects Luis Enrique himself.

Steel man in career as player and coach

Luis Enrique's strong character has been present throughout his career. From his bold decision to leave Real Madrid to join arch-rivals Barcelona - where he felt "back home" - to becoming an idol of Catalonia. His five goals against the Spanish Royals and his emotional celebrations were not the actions of a neutral man.

"Luis Enrique has a strong character, a strong personality," Oscar recalls. "He is always positive, he gives energy to everyone. Before, Luis Enrique did that with his teammates. Now, he does that with his team. Luis Enrique coaches the way he played - very, very aggressive."

It is no coincidence that Barcelona under Luis Enrique played the most frenetic attacking football, with the Messi-Suarez-Neymar trio scoring 122 goals in a single season - a record that has never been broken. He not only gave his three attacking geniuses freedom to express themselves, but also placed them in a clear tactical structure, where each player understood their role in the larger machine.

Luis Enrique is helping PSG thrive.

Comparisons with Pep Guardiola are inevitable. Both are former Barcelona players, and both won trebles with the Catalans as coaches. But if Guardiola is a football philosopher, with long lectures on positioning and space, Luis Enrique is more pragmatic, adaptable and flexible.

"Ball possession is fundamental," Luis Enrique once declared, reminding everyone of his Barcelona DNA. However, he did not hesitate to allow his team to switch to defensive counter-attacks when necessary, or to take advantage of direct attacks when the opportunity arose.

“Their styles are very similar,” Oscar said of his former teammates. “The philosophy is essentially the same.” But Luis Enrique added a unique element – a high intensity in pressing and attacking, a perfect balance between artistry and power.

Transform PSG

The Champions League semi-final victory over Arsenal, who beat them in the group stage in October, 3-1 on aggregate over two legs was testament to PSG's progress. "I watch that game back and see the progress we've made," Luis Enrique said. "We're better now. We're a more complete team."

This season marks a significant turning point for PSG. The loss of Mbappe - their brightest star - has not weakened the team but on the contrary, it has allowed Luis Enrique to build a more united team. No longer dependent on individual genius, PSG now fight and win as a unified unit.

"Because if you don't build a team but only individuals, it will be difficult to win titles," Oscar stressed. "In a match, you need to work as a family. I work for you and you work for me. If there are players who don't work for the team, it will be difficult."

If Luis Enrique can win the Champions League for the second time in his coaching career, he will join a special club of great coaches.

If Luis Enrique can win the Champions League for a second time in his coaching career, he will join a special club of great coaches. Only Ernst Happel and Jupp Heynckes have had to wait longer to win the prestigious trophy a second time.

But perhaps Luis Enrique's greatest legacy is not the trophies, but his ability to transform a team - from a collection of individual stars to a cohesive unit. From a club defined by big names to a team defined by a distinct style of play.

In an era where money is often seen as the sole key to success in football, Luis Enrique is proving that philosophy, discipline and belief in the collective can still work wonders. This is not just a revolution in Paris, but a message for the entire football world .

This is, to be exact, Luis Enrique's team.

Source: https://znews.vn/luis-enrique-qua-hay-post1551723.html