FDJ, sponsor of Paris Saint-Germain, organized a meeting between cycling team boss Marc Madiot and Luis Enrique, coach of Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking to Le Parisien, Madiot gave his thoughts on the Parisian coach, saying that the portrayal of him in the media is not good. For him, he is a very good person, “approachable”. He also spoke of the Spaniard’s human qualities.
Madiot “Luis Enrique is really a great guy”.
“The big surprise is Luis Enrique’s human quality. I had the image of the guy who’s a bit closed-minded, who answers very few questions from the press after matches, and who gives the impression of despising people. But I was completely wrong. Luis Enrique really is a great guy. I found him to be simple and humble. Frankly, he has nothing to do with the reputation some people give him. He’s perfectly approachable.“
It’s true that the media are giving Luis Enrique a run for his money. It’s also understandable that journalists have a hard time of it with the Paris coach’s communication, but the criticism is taking on enormous proportions.
Luis Enrique has a strong character and a life complicated by the family problems that have marked his career. He knows the media after having been a world-renowned soccer player. He knows what the media can do, and often seeks to protect his men by acting as a guardrail.
This earns him relentless criticism from all sides. When you see the words of Madiot, himself a former cyclist and charismatic manager, who also knows how to “play with the media”, it’s easier to understand that Luis Enrique is not the haughty, nasty personality everyone portrays him to be. It’s also good to have testimonials like this from a strong personality from the world of sport.
