David Raya, the 30-year-old Arsenal goalkeeper, was asked at a press conference to share his thoughts on Luis Enrique, the Paris Saint-Germain coach whom he knew from the Spanish national team and whom he will face this Saturday in the 2025-2026 Champions League final in Budapest.
Raya: “An excellent coach and a wonderful person.”
“Luis Enrique is an excellent coach and a wonderful person. He’s the one who gave me my debut with Spain, and I owe him a lot of respect. He’s a top-level coach who always makes adjustments to make things difficult for the opposition. But our objective is clear: to try and win this final.”
It’s a special bond that can develop between a player, whether at club or international level, and the coach. But it’s not just that; Luis Enrique seems particularly adept at communicating with his players to build a connection and convey his ideas. These are very distinct, sometimes difficult to grasp, but they allow for the creation of a strong team.
Everyone knows PSG’s philosophy, and there’s no question of changing it for an opponent. However, the team also knows how to adapt to different situations and the strengths of the other team. It’s not about always doing the same thing. Paris knows how to surprise. But without changing its principles.
This Saturday, there will be a great reunion between Raya and Luis Enrique, as well as for other players who know each other well. But above all, it will be a great football match.
