Luis Enrique (foto: Getty Images)
Luis Enrique says he's the most criticised coach in Europe, but insists he trusts his players and is focused on making history with PSG.
Luis Enrique believes no manager in Europe is scrutinised more than he is — and the Paris Saint-Germain boss is not shying away from the pressure.
Speaking ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Avranches, and with a Champions League semi-final against Arsenal looming, the Spaniard addressed criticism over his rotation policy, his long-term vision at PSG, and the challenges of managing a squad full of stars.
"I’m the most criticised coach in Europe," Enrique said. "At Roma, at Barcelona, with the Spanish national team — it’s always been the same. I’ve been criticised for rotating too much, for trusting the same players, for changing line-ups. But I’m a coach who believes in my players."
‘There’s no formula for every player’
Luis Enrique pointed to recent matches to explain that football isn’t always about control — sometimes the opponent simply performs better.
"It’s easy to manage a team when things are going well. Look at our match against Aston Villa. From the 45th to the 60th minute, we struggled. Then we created a few good chances. Sometimes it’s not about what you’re doing wrong — it’s what the opposition is doing right."
He added: "There’s no mathematical formula for every player. You need to adapt. Each player is unique, with their own profile. That’s part of the job."
'We want to make history at PSG'
While PSG have once again clinched the Ligue 1 title, Enrique made it clear that domestic dominance isn’t enough. The focus is now firmly on Europe.
"We haven’t reached our goal yet. Since last season, we’ve been saying we want to achieve something no one has ever done at PSG. We want to write history. The path is long, but we’re ready."
Next up: a massive semi-final showdown with Arsenal, a team Luis Enrique deeply respects.
"Do we have an advantage over Arsenal? No. Neither an advantage nor a disadvantage. English teams share a lot in common. We’ve already played Liverpool and Aston Villa. Now it’s Arsenal’s turn. For me, they’re one of the best teams in Europe. Since Mikel Arteta took charge, they’ve made huge progress."