“I just know how to compete,” he said to himself when he retired from playing in 2004. Management was the only option for former Barcelona and Spain.
As a coach, Luis Enrique copied from the beginning the philosophy of his former partner Pep Guardiola.
He did not bring anything truly new to the table, but, using the tons of energy he has, he became one of the main representatives of a wider cultural change.
His relentless edge is now driving everything in Paris St-Germain, though he initially didn’t even want the work.
He thought the club only cared about the names. Players like Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. He supposed, he supposed.
But when he heard that philosophy had changed – that they now wanted to build a team – he reconsidered.
And shortly after he arrived, Neymar and Marco Verratti disappeared. Messi, who may have left if Luis Enrique knew was coming, he had already committed to Inter Miami.
He understands and appreciates the importance of individual stars, but only to one point.
In a recent documentary about his first season at PSG, it was seen to warn MbaPpe, his star player at that time, about his obligation to fulfill his defensive duties, just after the player scored a Hat -trick.
“It’s the best player in the world,” the Asturian insisted several times. “But if the team with the best player in the world has always won, PSG would have eight champions’ league titles and didn’t have it.”
He is a manager who respects the structure, but he is never afraid to speak his mind.
“I am not afraid of the worst of football … if they come out, no problem,” he said. “The next day I will go to a cycling trip.”
It is that perspective that helped him start last season, including a 4-1 loss against Newcastle in the Champions League and the heavy criticisms of supporters.
But he kept quiet and kept faith in his football beliefs. Structure, repetition and positional discipline.
Your dream? One day, the managers will have microphones in the stands and will be able to speak players through their positions during a game.
He had to re -connect to a team addicted to chaos when he came to Paris.
Then he spent little time in an office, instead of sitting with his assistants, working directly with his players and embedding his ideas.
Some players return against their intensity. MBAPPE, for example, did not love to be fitted as a number nine or challenged publicly after a hat-trick.
But others thrive, because it does not do favorites.