Club World Cup: PSG’s success is in team ethics, not individual stars, says manager Luis Enrique

Paris St. Germain manager Luis Enrique emphasized on Friday that the key to the revival of his side is a collective team ethics instead of being dependent on individual sparkle, while the French and European champion is preparing for Chelsea in the final of Sunday’s club of Sunday.

The Parisians, stimulated by their historical Champions League triumph who chases their first club’s world cup title just over a month ago.

Luis Enrique has supervised an important transformation at PSG, to replace departing stars Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe by a dynamic, youthful team that embodies his total football philosophy.

During a press conference at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, the Spaniard tried suggestions that he is the central figure of the team, instead to reject the shared dedication of the players to a common goal.

«I am not a star … I love the work I do. I enjoy my career, especially in difficult times,» said Luis Enrique. «If things are not going well, I feel better. It’s nice if everything works, because gaining best is making the people who follow us happily. I have been much better if I have been criticized than when I am praised.»

Luis Enrique, who previously led Barcelona to Champions League Glory, hinted that this campaign could be one of the best of his management career, but emphasized that success would only be defined after Sunday’s final.

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«Maybe this can be the best season of my coaching career. But there is still a final to win. When we have won it, we will talk about it,» he said.

The Spaniard also emphasized the fleeting character of football, with reference to the recent struggles of Manchester City as a warning story.

«For example, we saw Manchester City. They won everything last year and then they lose 10 games and they are crushed. Pep Guardiola is still the best coach in the world and they kill him. So I prefer criticism over praise because it makes you modest, it’s the raw reality.»

Luis Enrique repeated his vision for a team-first approach and stated: «We have to be a team with eleven stars, not just one or two. Even eleven not, maybe thirteen, fifteen stars … The real star should be the whole team. That is what our club stands for. We will soon lose again. We want stars, but in the team’s service.»

PSG’s collision with Chelsea promises to be a fascinating meeting, where both parties are fighting to add a coveted international trophy to their respective awards. The Parisians will strive to close a groundbreaking year by lifting the club World Cup for the first time in their history.