After PSG/Chelsea, Elie Baup paid a glowing tribute to Luis Enrique, the 55-year-old Spanish coach of PSG, in an interview with Le Parisien. The former coach praised the Parisian manager’s tactical acumen, his mastery of collective pressing, and his ability to turn a match around, even with bold choices like starting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the bench.
Baup: “For this game to be executed perfectly, everyone needs to be in harmony.”
“There was an element of risk in making Marquinhos more vulnerable in one-on-one situations. But this positional play facilitated counter-pressing and allowed us to put the opposition under pressure as soon as Paris regained possession. The work done by Neves on Palmer, in particular, was extraordinary.
Pressing depends on the players’ physical abilities, but also on coordination and movement. And on this point, Paris was impeccable. There were the key players on the pitch and the conductor, who is Luis Enrique. It was a truly masterful performance. But for this game to be executed perfectly, everyone needs to be in harmony.”
Baup: “He’s an incredible coach.”
Kvaratskhelia on the bench?
His introduction vindicated Luis Enrique. The guy was angry, and I understand why, because he was recruited to start this kind of match. But Luis Enrique always has everything “That’s right, actually. He’s an incredible coach. He’s truly passionate. He has a burning desire to succeed, but he’s a role model. He continues to amaze me, and I watch PSG matches just for him, to see what he can do tactically.”
In Baup’s view, Luis Enrique transcends the mere status of a high-performing coach: he appears as the mastermind behind this Paris Saint-Germain team. His praise rests on a simple yet powerful idea: nothing was left to chance in the victory against Chelsea.
Marquinhos’ more exposed positioning certainly carried a risk, but this choice served a higher purpose: an aggressive, coordinated, and perfectly executed counter-press. Baup also emphasizes the team’s harmony, the triggers of the pressing, and João Neves’ impact on the off-the-ball movement—all elements that reinforce the idea of a PSG guided by a very strong tactical hand. Even the Kvaratskhelia case, frustrated then decisive, reinforces, according to him, the authority and instinct of the Parisian coach.
