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PSG promises to continue to dominate European football in the coming years. |
Early morning of June 1, Kylian Mbappe posted a short status congratulating his former club on winning the Champions League, but deep down, the French striker probably felt some regret. However, coach Luis Enrique understands better than anyone the benefits of PSG no longer having Mbappe in the squad. It is thanks to the departure of the striker born in 1998 that Enrique's PSG has achieved today's success.
The redirection
When he first took over as PSG coach in the summer of 2023, Luis Enrique could not hide his frustration. He was surprised that many PSG players played too individually and did not value the collective. That was contrary to the Spanish coach's philosophy.
“At that time, everything at PSG was a bit of a shock for Enrique,” PSG sporting director Luis Campos recalled. PSG’s identity over the past decade has been to recruit stars, pamper these pillars so that they can shine when the club needs them.
As he began working with Enrique, Campos saw signs of optimism. He saw changes taking shape under the new coach.
“If we don’t win this year, I believe we will win next year,” Campos declared in May 2024, after PSG were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals.
And as predicted, in the early morning of June 1 in Munich, PSG won a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. The important turning point for that success originated in the fall of 2023. At that time, Enrique was annoyed that the team had to revolve around Kylian Mbappe, who "never defends" (the coach himself said), forcing him to adjust the system so that the striker ran as little as possible.
In the dressing room before a match, he once flew into a rage and told Mbappe to press the opposition centre-back. “This is a game!” he shouted at the Frenchman.
More than anyone else, this coach was the happiest when Mbappe joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. Mbappe's departure last summer not only lightened the atmosphere at PSG but also helped Luis Enrique's philosophy take effect.
The whole team is now pressing in unison. Before the final, the PSG coach commented: “If you analyse our defensive improvement, it is in the way the strikers defend. They do it very well, you can see the number of times they recover the ball. This is the most difficult thing to apply because the strikers have to change their mindset.”
Enrique not only changed PSG's playing style but also changed the mindset of the club's stars. That helped PSG quench their thirst for the European championship.
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Coach Enrique is the key factor in PSG's success. |
Sweet fruit
Paris Saint-Germain finally got their hands on their first Champions League trophy after a 5-0 win over Inter Milan. It was a historic night, but given PSG's run since the start of the season, the French side deserved every bit of success.
Inter Milan, under coach Simone Inzaghi, were completely helpless against PSG's relentless attacks. They could not find a way to escape the pressing and often made mistakes when developing the ball from the back.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer was constantly under pressure every time he had the ball. A big screen image of Inter fans in tears became a symbol of the Italian team's frustration.
However, Inter are not the only losers to feel suffocated by the pressure from PSG this season. Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool all know the feeling of facing a PSG with a versatile attacking style.
And nothing is sweeter than doing it in their first season without any "superstar" players in the squad.
Source: https://znews.vn/psg-vo-dich-nho-chia-tay-mbappe-post1557364.html
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