Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain has become a global football benchmark, particularly following its back-to-back Champions League triumphs. Speaking at a press conference, Zinedine Zidane—the new France national team manager—discussed the subject and admitted to drawing inspiration from the Spanish tactician.
Zidane: “They want to play with the ball, not chase after it.”
“As a coach, are there specific playing principles I admire in this PSG side? Many, yes. Because it is a proactive team that presses the opposition high up the pitch. It is a team that plays when in possession; they want to play with the ball rather than chase after it.
Those are my principles, too. I was a playmaker, so I didn’t like chasing the ball—I liked having it at my feet. That is an area where we still need to work. It’s not just about sterile possession; it’s about being able to accelerate in the final 30 or 40 meters to exploit gaps and become more dangerous. But that will come.”
PSG’s style of play has somewhat revolutionized football in recent years. The dominance of superstars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo had previously driven teams to build around marquee names—PSG included. Luis Enrique arrived at the Parisian club with a clear vision: to build a team and a collective unit. He achieved these goals in a very short space of time.
The capital club has become a juggernaut, building a solid, ultra-dominant squad. In just two seasons, PSG has established itself as a benchmark. Today, it is clear that the era of team-building around individual superstars is over; above all, fans want to see a team—a collective—capable of giving 100% on the pitch. It is interesting to see that Zidane wants to follow this model—something that is certainly flattering for coach Luis Enrique. Now, the challenge will be to find the right formula. That is no easy task with a squad where certain habits have been entrenched for years.
