In an interview with PSG TV, Luis Enrique discussed the reasons behind his contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain. The coach spoke about the difficulty of staying at a club for a long time, his connection with Luis Campos and the fans, and the role his footballing philosophy plays in recruitment.
Luis Enrique: “Paris is different; Paris is special.”
Coach, I’d like to start with a French saying: “Love lasts three years.” That often holds true for coaches, but not in your case with Paris Saint-Germain.
I hope that isn’t the truth.
“Love lasts only three years.” It’s a saying we have in France—regarding love, relationships…
And why only three years?
Relationships usually last three years, but that hasn’t been the case with you. You’re proving otherwise.
This is the longest stint of my coaching career. It isn’t easy—staying for more than two, three, or four years… It’s tough as a coach because you’re constantly plugged in, always preparing everything that matters to the team. I remember times when I try to take a moment to reflect, but my mind is occupied with other things. You win a match, and ten minutes later, you’re already worrying about the next opponent—regardless of their level.
Luis Enrique: “That’s why it’s hard for a coach to stay in one place for a long time.”
If it’s a top-tier opponent, it can be a source of motivation, but there’s always that fear of losing, the fear of underperforming. That’s what I find difficult to manage as a coach. That’s why it’s hard to stay in one place for a long time in this profession. But Paris is different; Paris is special. What we experienced in Paris—right from the very first days—was truly special for me, and that’s why we’re continuing. We’re moving forward and striving to improve.
Luis Enrique: “The connection with Luis Campos right from the start was very special.”
So, was it a collective decision—involving the human, sporting, and personal aspects—that led you to stay?
Yes, absolutely. It was the trust shown by the club, the president, and Luis Campos. The connection with Luis Campos was very special from day one; it’s a wonderful combination. We are all working together to keep improving, to enjoy what we do, and to try to make our fans happy. Ultimately, those are the greatest motivations.
Footage from his first interview at the club
Can I show you a video? It’s your first interview from when you arrived at the club. Let’s have a listen—just a few words—and then we can react to it.
I’m not going to ask for anything, because it’s impossible to ask the fans for anything. We only want to offer you and give you something: pride, and the feeling that your team is working hard, fighting, playing good football, and approaching every match with the aim of getting the points, without playing it safe.
That is what I can guarantee as a coach. I don’t know if I’ll succeed, but I am convinced of it. As for the outcome, however, I don’t know what it will be. I think that’s the least of our worries. And nothing else. I hope you’ll really enjoy it.
Luis Enrique: “He needs to recruit players who fit the coach’s ideas.”
It’s great to see that again today, because you were talking about confidence, too.
That’s what gives me confidence as a coach. I remember something I said when I was in charge of the Spanish national team: I don’t know what the result will be—because nobody knows what the result will be—but I know we’re going to lose matches. We need to have more possession than the opponent. We might lose a match, or fail to qualify for the World Cup or the Euros, while playing this way.
And that’s what I think you can see or observe in my teams. I am fully convinced that this is the best way to win. Usually, I don’t always manage to establish that connection. But in Paris, it was different. It was all about the connection: the desire of the fans, the club’s ambition to improve, the trust involved, and the good fortune of having this caliber of players.
There was the trust Luis Campos placed in me—as I mentioned—along with the players themselves and the process of adaptation. To me, a sporting director needs to be brave; he has to recruit players who fit the coach’s vision. In our case, Luis Campos and I share a similar philosophy. That is, in a way, the key.
And then, of course, there is the club’s ability to sign incredible players—like the ones we have right now.
