After Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-2 victory against Chelsea, Alain Giresse highlighted Luis Enrique’s main strength in Le Parisien: his ability to mentally prepare his squad and instill complete confidence in his players. The 55-year-old Spanish coach, at the helm of the Parisian club, appears more than ever as the conductor of a team that rises to the occasion in crucial moments.
Giresse: “I don’t know what he said to them, but he managed to find the right words.”
“I think he gave his players a mental jolt. I don’t know what he said, but he managed to find the right words to get everyone fully committed and with the right attitude. Everything had been perfectly prepared by Luis Enrique, who showed he knew his players inside and out by giving them the tools to implement the instructions on the pitch.”
Giresse: “He must have been itching to get back to work.”
Kvaratskhelia on the bench?
“He’s a player with character. He must have been itching to get back on the bench, thinking to himself, ‘Okay, you haven’t played me yet, you’ll see!'”
Through Giresse’s perspective, what stands out is not only Luis Enrique’s tactical acumen, but also his psychological mastery of the squad. The PSG manager didn’t just devise a coherent game plan against Chelsea; he also managed to unite his entire dressing room with the same high standards. That’s where his strength truly shines. He provides a framework, but above all, he instills conviction.
His players don’t take to the pitch with instructions recited mechanically; they play with the belief that the plan will work. The case of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 25-year-old left winger, perfectly illustrates this approach: even initially relegated to the bench, he remained involved and made a significant impact, demonstrating a cohesive group, motivated and instilled with confidence by their coach.
This is undoubtedly what distinguishes Luis Enrique from coaches who are merely good on the whiteboard. He doesn’t just seek to convince with ideas, but to get the entire group on board, from starters to substitutes. And in a European campaign, this kind of calm authority is invaluable.
