Luis Enrique - PSG's successful architect

The former Barcelona coach was very clear when he took over at Paris St Germain in the summer of 2023. If there were still a trio of strikers, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, he would not join the club.

However, the Argentine has left (to Inter Miami of Major League Soccer). Enrique was also given the green light to take Neymar to Saudi Arabia, despite having worked with both (alongside Messi) and achieved great success at Barcelona in 2015.

"You can't have a team with three strikers like that in today's football. It was ineffective," Enrique said at a meeting with PSG executives before accepting the role, according to an ESPN source.

Enrique has enough experience and knowledge to realize that if he does not attack with 11 players and defend with 11 players, the team will not achieve anything.

Before Enrique's arrival, PSG with the above attacking trio was a team divided into two teams. Including 8 players below and the superstar trio in attack. Enrique ultimately just wanted to keep Mbappe.

The Spanish captain felt he could turn Mbappe into a better teammate. He has held many private meetings with the French superstar, showing Mbappe what he expects from a striker with and without the ball.

"You think all you have to do is score. Surely, you are a phenomenon, a world-class player, no doubt anymore. But for me, that was not enough. A real leader is someone that if you can't help us score, you have to help us defend."

These are believed to be Enrique's first words to Mbappe at PSG. That is the core of Enrique's philosophy, which defender Lucas Hernandez admitted when asked about the coach's style.

"If you don't do what he says on the pitch, you don't get to play. And since we all want to play, we all do exactly what he says," said the French defender.

PSG was once overshadowed by the shadow of the stars. The players always feel they are above the coaches. Whether it is Laurent Blanc, Thomas Tuchel, Unai Emery, Mauricio Pochettino or Christophe Galtier, PSG's dressing room has become a huge problem.

Enrique is different. He may be very stubborn but still knows how to listen to the players' thoughts. Enrique has given the players more freedom on the pitch as long as the structure of the team remains the same.

This Wednesday, at PSG's new and state-of-the-art training ground, Enrique sat on his small crane to watch his players practice. Next to him was Joaquin Valdes, the team's psychologist and Enrique's reliable assistant. And as usual, Enrique stopped the game, got off the crane, gave instructions and returned.

"There's no better way of looking at it. If I could watch our games like this, I would always do it," Enrique told ESPN last week.

"It's been a harmony from the very beginning. Maybe not everyone recognizes that, but I have never changed. I have always had a consistent relationship with the players, and been myself from the very beginning.

We are going through great moments, even though the results are not as expected. I don't like people judging based on results. In fact, I haven't changed at all.

I try to accept it calmly and maturely. I have 10 more years of experience and am trying to convey to the players that we can write history. I really like the most recent training session, the spirit and attitude of the players are great. We will do everything to win" - Enrique shared.