Paris St Germain (PSG) manager Luis Enrique has emphasised the key to his side’s resurgence is a collective team ethic rather than reliance on individual brilliance, as the French and European champions prepare to face Chelsea in tonight’s Club World Cup final.
The Parisians, buoyed by their historic Champions League triumph a little over a month ago, are chasing their first Club World Cup title.
Luis Enrique has overseen a significant transformation at PSG, replacing departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe with a dynamic, youthful squad that embodies his total football philosophy.
Speaking at a press conference at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Friday, the Spaniard downplayed suggestions he was the team’s central figure, instead crediting the players for their shared commitment to a common goal. “I’m not a star ... I like the work I do. I enjoy my career, especially during difficult times,” Luis Enrique said.
“When things aren’t going well, I feel better. It’s nice when everything works out because the best thing about winning is making the people who follow us happy. I’ve been much better when I’ve been criticised than when I’ve been praised.”
Luis Enrique, who previously guided Barcelona to Champions League glory, hinted that this campaign could be among the finest of his managerial career but stressed that success would only be defined after tonight’s final. “Maybe this could be the best season of my coaching career. But there’s still a final to win. When we’ve won it, we’ll talk about it,” he said.
The coach also highlighted the volatile nature of football, citing Manchester City’s recent struggles as a cautionary tale. “We’ve seen Manchester City, for example. They won everything last year and then they lose 10 games and they’re crushed. Pep Guardiola is still the best coach in the world and they’re killing him. So I prefer criticism over praise because it makes you feel humble, it’s the crude reality.”
Luis Enrique reiterated his vision for a team-first approach, declaring, “We have to be a team with 11 stars, not just one or two. Not even 11, maybe 13, 15 stars... The real star should be the entire team. That’s what our club stands for. We’ll lose again soon, for sure. We want stars, but in the service of the team.”
PSG’s clash with Chelsea promises to be an enthralling encounter, with both sides vying to add a coveted international trophy to their honours. The Parisians will be aiming to cap off a ground-breaking year by lifting the Club World Cup for the first time in their history.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said the scorching heat at the Club World Cup in the US left him feeling dizzy and he described the high temperatures as "dangerous" to play in.
Meawhile, soaring temperatures in several host cities have been a focal point in the Club World Cup, which is seen as a dry run for next year’s men’s World Cup. “Honestly, the heat is incredible. The other day I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy,” Fernandez, who won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, told reporters on Friday.
“Playing in this temperature is very dangerous. . The speed of the game is not the same, everything becomes very slow.
“Well, let’s hope that next year they change the schedule, at least so that it remains a beautiful and attractive football spectacle, right?”
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has also complained about the heat, saying it was “impossible” to organise regular training sessions in the afternoons in Philadelphia. “Some places have been really hot, the last round was hot and I was stuck watching it and I was thinking: ‘wow, this is so tough’. I felt bad for them but they managed it really well,” Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill said. — Reuters
• BBK’s Unplugged column will be back next week
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