Luis Enrique's PSG Plan for Sustained Success
Luis Enrique has built PSG to handle the challenge of winning after winning, with squad depth, youth integration, and a clear managerial identity.
Paris St-Germain approach Wednesday's Champions League match at Etihad Stadium with a philosophy designed to keep them at the top. Coach Luis Enrique, inspired by Johan Cruyff's observation that winning after winning is football's hardest task, has structured the season around avoiding complacency. PSG have won the past two Champions Leagues and are chasing a third consecutive title, as well as a third straight Ligue 1 crown, though they currently sit sixth in the league with three wins, two draws and one defeat.
The club has reinforced its long-term vision by extending Luis Enrique's contract until 2030 and tying down key players such as Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo and Senny Mayulu. The technical staff has remained largely unchanged since 2023, with assistant Joaquin Valdes providing personal support to players and Rafel Pol handling strategy. Training methods have stayed consistent, but the squad now boasts greater depth, allowing Luis Enrique to rest starters for bigger matches.
The attack has been refreshed after Gonzalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-in departed. Barcola was not deemed capable of reaching Ousmane Dembele's level but convinced Liverpool to pay £123m. New signings Mika Godts and Ferran Torres are seen as hungrier. Torres, who scored the winner for Spain in the World Cup final and has seven goals in France, has worked on his mental strength and feels wanted for the first time.
Luis Enrique's authority is absolute. As Dani Gil of COPE notes, "the star is Luis Enrique," and players accept that. The club has sold famous names without losing identity, drawing value from an academy that shares a campus with the first team. Four homegrown players featured in the Champions League last season, and the method flows from the top down. During the recent international break, Luis Enrique worked with academy prospects, reinforcing the pathway.
His relationship with the media is distant; he gives no off-the-record access or one-on-one interviews, and now answers only in French. He recently dismissed the idea that his break activities were of interest. When discussing football, he noted that French perception is extreme: PSG's rivals are deemed inferior when they win, and a catastrophe is declared when they struggle.
At the Etihad, Luis Enrique will face former manager Pep Guardiola. He is expected to defend Guardiola's legacy, and the PSG media team trusts him to handle any questions without a coordinated response. Whatever the outcome, Luis Enrique remains sharp and comfortable at the top.
