Luis Enrique discussed various aspects of his relationships at Paris Saint-Germain during an interview with PSG TV. The coach spoke about the age gap between him and his players, his banter with Vitinha, his personal motivation, working with his staff, and his first meeting with Luis Campos.
Luis Enrique: “It’s like a marriage”
Regarding your players, you have a very young squad. Do you feel that you haven’t yet tapped into its full potential? You must certainly see that. And above all, did that influence your decision to stay—so you could continue to guide them further?
To be honest—and I can be, since I’m right at home here—it actually scares me a little! Because the age gap between the young players and me gets wider every year! But when I look back at my coaching career, I realize I’ve always managed to build good relationships with the players.
Luis Enrique: “I need to be connected and cracking jokes all the time”
The age gap—the generational difference?
The age gap, because I really love to laugh and stay connected with the players. That’s where I get my energy! I need to be connected and cracking jokes all the time. I remember Vitinha sometimes saying to me, “Boss, I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not!” And I’d say, “That’s for you to interpret!” It’s like a marriage. You have to understand each other—even when it comes to humor!
But I love it. I love trying to help the players, challenging them, pushing them to react, and then observing that reaction—seeing whether I’ve elicited a positive or negative response. Every player, at any given moment, needs a specific kind of response—whether positive or negative. I’m looking to change things and find the best approach—and it’s exciting! That’s what I love.
Luis Enrique: “I am very happy with what I’ve achieved so far.”
You often foster competition among your players; you challenge them. We know that’s part of your methods. But who do you compete against to challenge yourself? Is it yourself? How do you push yourself further?
I’ve never drawn motivation from another coach because every coach has their own path. People often think—and coaches often think—about copying others. The most important thing is to stay on your own path.
That means asking yourself questions, running training sessions… Is this how I want my team to play? Is this how I want them to lose, if they have to lose? Because that’s the hardest part for us as coaches. But ultimately, it’s defeats that make you question things.
I don’t need motivation from another coach. I have no intention of trying to improve my trophy haul or my CV simply to surpass others. I am very happy with what I’ve achieved so far. I have the ambition to win a lot and to strive for victory.
But when the time comes to lose, you have to accept it in the best possible way. There will be another team, another coach, another family, another club that wins and is happy. That’s life. You have to accept what comes your way, while giving 100% of yourself. I may have found people who motivate you every day.
Luis Enrique: “The pressure is incredible”
Can you tell us a bit about your staff and your assistants? Are the people around you part of what motivates you every day?
Absolutely—it’s important. I’ve been coaching for fifteen or eighteen years—I’ve lost track of the exact number—and I’ve worked with various people. Some have moved on, which is normal in this profession.
It’s the elite level. You live with your staff; you’re constantly traveling. You’re right there with them! We share offices. There are times when you get frustrated because things aren’t going the way you want. Winning at the elite level is very difficult. The pressure is incredible, and every season brings its own set of challenges.
Ultimately, it’s the staff and the players who have to share these moments, try to understand one another, and think together about how to improve. That’s what we’re trying to do.
Luis Enrique: “He showed me things that were important for the club; I was a bit surprised.”
What makes this trio so strong?
I think it’s very difficult—and I speak from experience, having been lucky enough to work with excellent presidents and sporting directors.
But last week, I was reminded of a conversation with my son Pacho: “Do you remember the day you brought Luis Campos to our house?” He knew where I lived, and I remember Luis Campos kept asking, “Where is this house? Where are we?” “You’re on the right track, don’t worry.”
That was a very special moment because with him… I think we’ve already talked about that. I remember that after just fifteen minutes with someone I didn’t know, we established a very clear connection. He showed me things that were important for the club—I was actually a bit surprised!
It was a really clear connection, and it was a very important day for me. I already knew the president, and things were incredible right from the start with everyone involved. That is the best way for a coach to work. That’s the level of trust we have.
