Luis Enrique, this Wednesday, at the award ceremony as the new PSG coach. GONZALO FUENTES (Portal)
Luis Enrique’s presentation as Paris Saint-Germain coach this Wednesday afternoon in Poissy was relaxed. Above the conference room where the three-hour-postponed event took place hung the divisive threat from Kylian Mbappé, who two weeks ago announced he would not be renewing his contract, which expires in 2024. The Spanish coach became a minor character, avoiding comment on the franchise player’s future and claiming “professional secrecy”. President Nasser al-Khelaifi was more explicit, warning that in January he would not allow the footballer to remain free wherever he wants in June 2024. “It’s impossible,” he condemned.
In the absence of more concrete ideas and plans, the Qatari sheikhs who own PSG have stuck to their mysticism and decided to overcome the existential crisis the club is going through with the signing of Luis Enrique. The Spanish coach still carries the aura of the leader of the comeback, the historic 1:6 that humiliated PSG on March 8, 2017, in a Champions League evening that marked the history of European football and especially the history of PSG for always changing . So calls it the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin-Hamad al-Thani, the top governing body in the club’s strategy and ultimately responsible for signing Luis Enrique after signings Neymar (2017) and Messi (2021). , the other main architects of the comeback, were absent today, the Brazilian was seriously injured and the Argentine emigrated to Miami.
“We’re not taking him for what he earned, but because he did it,” Al-Khelaifi said in the presentation; “Luis Enrique represents the best style of football in the world, an offensive and attacking style. The kind of football I want to see my team play.
The 53-year-old coach from Asturias was unveiled this afternoon at the magnificent PSG sports city recently built in the town of Poissy. In the act, led by Al-Khelaifi, the coach and the president first had to explain how the responsibilities of the sports sector are divided, where Luis Campos has previously served as director. According to club sources, the Portuguese was not only against Luis Enrique signing but also suggested José Mourinho or Thiago Motta as a substitute.
“Bonjour,” said Luis Enrique first in his presentation, before warning that he had started learning French. “I’m very happy to be here.” When asked about his relationship with Luis Camos, he replied with a raised eyebrow: “I’ve always got on very well with all my sporting directors; Signing and transferring players is a task that can only be done as a team.”
Kylian Mbappé’s situation occupied most of the conference. The announcement by the PSG captain, who warned on June 12 that he would not renew his contract, puts the club in a position to sell him this summer and make the investment profitable or allow him to close for free in 2024 going since his relationship will end in June next year. Asked about it several times, Mbappé didn’t want to reveal his plans, but if he does intend to end his contract and leave on a free transfer in 2024, he’ll enjoy the protection of both civil law and FIFA regulations. When asked if Mbappé would continue next season, Luis Enrique was evasive. “When I signed, everything was open,” he said. “What I know is a professional secret. I don’t want to disclose any confidential information. We’ll try to have the best possible squad. Mbappé has a contract but things are constantly changing in the market. What we spoke to Nasser about [Al-Khelaifi] It stays between us.
Luis Enrique on Mbappé’s future: ‘It’s a professional secret’
“The situation is very clear,” Al-Khelaifi replied when asked about Mbappé’s contractual reality. “If he wants to stay, we want him to stay. But we have to sign a new contract. We cannot release the best player in the world. This is not possible. This is a French club and as far as I know he doesn’t want to leave a club in his country for nothing. If anyone has changed their mind here, it’s not my fault.
Al-Khelaifi referred to Mbappé’s stated desire to leave money to the club he considers home. Most importantly, he hinted that he is in favor of selling Mbappé this summer rather than letting him go on a free transfer in 2024. This represents a radical change in policy that PSG pursued with his character the last time he was in a situation similar, months after his contract ended, in the summer of 2021. Then PSG preferred the footballer to be free the following year would stay instead of selling him. Real Madrid offered almost €200m in August 2021 with no greater effect than the PSG owners’ silence.
The uncertainty surrounding Mbappé reflects the state of affairs in an institution that until recently was striving to occupy the pinnacle of European football. The choice of Luis Enrique comes after a long consultation between the owners. The decision was neither easy nor unanimous. The only reason for the commitment was the need to have a coach in the upcoming pre-season. Before turning to Spanish, the sheikhs had three priorities: Zidane, Nagelsmann and Spalletti. No one was willing to take over the bank. The technicians consulted by the Qatari owners weighed up the pros and cons. In Luis Enrique’s favour, they pointed out that he not only has excellent skills as a field coach but also enjoys an undeniable international reputation, something they considered politically essential after Galtier’s failure and a trait that Thiago Motta possessed , the former player, has not had an hour despite his good work in Bologna.
Sheikh’s alarm
Against him, the sheikhs argued that Luis Enrique had not managed a club team since June 2017, when his time at Barcelona ended, and that working as a squad leader requires practice and practice that does not always stand the test of time. The Qatari owners recalled that their only experience outside of Spain, at Roma (2011-12), was unfortunate; And they didn’t stop studying their last performance at the World Cup in Qatar, where the team lost to Morocco in the round of 16. According to PSG sources, the whole incident was alarming for the Sheikhs’ advisers. Luis Enrique’s leadership of the team has not appealed to those closest to Al-Khelaifi given the personal and professional consequences of his daughter’s courtship with Ferran Torres.
Before noon this Wednesday, PSG announced the departure of Christophe Galtier, the coach who led the team last season. Galtier was hired in the summer of 2022 with a two-season tie, disappointing the board and the Emir of Qatar in two fundamental areas: leadership and tactics. His lack of charisma to manage a star-studded dressing room was exacerbated dramatically by his inability to read crucial games with the depth and audacity required by the squad at his disposal. The ambition and investment of the Qatari owners set a bar that the team did not surpass in the Champions League knockout stages against Bayern. The double defeat (0:1 and 0:2) plunged the club into an identity crisis, the solution to which is still uncertain.
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