Didier Deschamps, France’s national team coach, spoke to beIN SPORTS on the sidelines of the UNFP 2024-2025 Trophées ceremony on Sunday. In particular, he discussed Paris Saint-Germain’s qualification for the Champions League final (May 31 against Inter Milan). He had a special message for PSG coach Luis Enrique.
Deschamps “He went all the way, and today he’s being praised.”
“Paris is back with this big event. A C1 final is something fabulous. We mustn’t forget that the situation was complicated during the league phase, as elimination was quite close at one point. But here they are today, having beaten some great teams.
Congratulations to the players and to Luis Enrique, who stuck to his guns despite the turbulence. He went all the way, and he’s being praised today because the results are in. It’s always like that when you’re a coach (smile).“
Deschamps is well placed to speak out on this subject, as he knows all about the barrage of criticism he receives for a few slightly disappointing matches or a poor result, before being put on a pedestal when there are victories. It’s a media and fan classic, and you have to get used to it.
Although it would be nice to see some people able to take a step back before judging. Not only because content “analyses” are often based on the result (though sometimes “illogical” in soccer), but also because many forget the difficulties of being a coach and think they know everything.
Luis Enrique was losing his squad, restricting his players, and heading for disaster with a squad that had been poorly constructed by soccer consultant Luis Campos, who was taking advantage of PSG to line his own pockets. These early-season assertions have been erased by a team that is impressing everyone and could win every title possible with a strong collective.
Of course, things don’t always go so smoothly. Everything can quickly swing one way or the other. But that’s soccer and you have to accept it.
