At the peak, PSG still cleans up the squad

Exactly 10 years after helping Barca win the Champions League, coach Luis Enrique must again solve the problem of PSG's motivation and ambition.

Goalkeeper Donnarumma likely to leave PSG - Photo: REUTERS

In the summer of 2015, Enrique's coaching career reached its peak when he led Barca to the legendary "treble". That was also the time when the football world ranked coach Enrique among the best strategists in the world . But there was still a bit of a problem, when the former Spanish player inherited a very strong squad, with Messi, Suarez, Neymar and a group of superstars from La Masia.

Just two years after that legendary season, coach Enrique announced his departure from Camp Nou, even though his team was still doing well. The motivation for his departure? Partly to find a new challenge, and partly from coach Enrique's clear realization that his superstars had run out of ambition and desire... Messi at that time was only focused on the national team, and native stars like Iniesta, Busquets, and Pique no longer had the desire to fight.

After nearly 10 years, the old problem is again troubling the 55-year-old strategist, at a different level. In the coming days, PSG will most likely part ways with goalkeeper Donnarumma, who could not reach an agreement on salary with the French team. That will be the first crack in PSG's throne, after a season of great sublimation.

Donnarumma played a huge role in PSG's conquest, to the point that he was included in the Golden Ball contenders. Losing Donnarumma means losing an icon, but coach Enrique has no regrets, because he knows that trying to keep a player who is gradually losing his fighting spirit and only focusing on demanding his rights can be worse.

8 years ago, coach Enrique chose to leave Camp Nou - the team he loved all his life, as a decision to "avoid the heavy and seek the light". At that time, this strategist did not want to collide with the veterans, who were also his favorite students. But at PSG now, it will be different, Enrique is now famous as a coach with an "iron fist", ready to eliminate superstars, and demanding players to fight at the highest level.

There is a famous photo of Enrique shouting at Mbappe in a tactics meeting, criticising the French superstar for not helping out defensively. Mbappe may have been given a bit of priority because of his status, but others were not.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/o-dinh-cao-psg-van-thanh-loc-doi-hinh-20250810100247038.htm