Editorial – Luis Enrique, between fair criticism and duty to remember | OneFootball

At Paris Saint-Germain, Luis Enrique’s management is not limited to a team sheet. It shows when competition frustrates an important player, when a youngster has to wait, or when the bench becomes decisive on a European night. The Spanish word gestor describes his method quite well: he is not trying to keep everyone happy all the time, he is trying to keep everyone committed to the project.

Standards only matter if trust survives the decision.

Ousmane DEMBELE of Paris Saint-Germain and Luis ENRIQUE head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris and Arsenal at Stadium Puskas Ferenc on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport) – Photo by Icon Sport

Dembélé, setting the framework without a soap opera.

On September 30, 2024, Luis Enrique left Ousmane Dembélé out of the squad for the trip to Arsenal. He explained that the forward had not met the team’s standards and stood by a difficult decision, taken, in his view, for the good of the collective. He also stressed that it was reversible and refused to turn it into a TV drama. The episode sums up part of his management style: status does not exempt anyone from the rules, but a sanction does not automatically become a break-up.

Zaïre-Emery, acknowledged disappointment.

Warren Zaïre-Emery’s case is even more telling. After an excellent 2025-2026 season, the midfielder started the Champions League final against Arsenal on the bench. Luis Enrique later admitted that the decision had been “unfair” to him. A few days later, Zaïre-Emery acknowledged that being a substitute in the final was frustrating, while also explaining: “Luis Enrique never gave up on me.” There is no point pretending the decision did not hurt. What matters is that it did not erase the work done or the relationship built during the more difficult months.

Helping players improve to make competition acceptable.

Clarity of roles before any promise of playing time.

Vitinha describes a straightforward coach whose feedback truly matches what he thinks and expects. Above all, he highlights clearly defined roles: everyone knows what they have to do, and the team keeps moving forward when a player is missing. That does not mean every hierarchy disappears. Rather, it shows why uncertainty over the lineup can be bearable: a player may not always know which minute will be his, but he knows the work required to earn it.

Doué, patience that still demands a lot.

In March 2025, Luis Enrique pointed out that Désiré Doué needed several months to adapt. He highlighted his qualities and the work that was helping him express them better. That is the value of this approach: not confusing development with a final verdict, without turning patience into a free pass. The player still has to improve and prove himself over time.

The squad is truly motivated when the bench has a purpose.

Head coach Luis ENRIQUE of PSG during the Champions League match between Paris and Bratislava at Parc des Princes on September 9, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport) – Photo by Icon Sport

The Super Cup as a concrete example.

On August 13, 2025, PSG were trailing Tottenham 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup. Kang-in Lee, coming off the bench, pulled one back in the 85th minute, then Gonçalo Ramos equalized in the 90th+4. Paris eventually won on penalties.

The scenario does not prove that every substitute feels perfectly valued, but it gives substance to Luis Enrique’s promise: the match can also belong to those who start on the bench. To be useful in that moment, they have to have been prepared, given responsibility, and kept in rhythm.

Rotating without giving up on standards.

At Rennes, on March 8, 2025, Luis Enrique made eight changes after the defeat against Liverpool. Paris won 4-1, but also struggled after the break. The example avoids the overly simple narrative of miraculous rotation: resting the regulars protects the squad, but it also requires the selected players to deliver immediately and the staff to correct a fragile balance.

Preparing for spring without following an automatic schedule.

Rest is a sporting decision.

In May 2025, before the Coupe de France and Champions League finals, Luis Enrique rested several key players while taking into account their physical load, travel, and mental freshness. In March 2026, he summed up that case-by-case logic like this: “Rhythm for some, rest for others.” His calmness, then, does not come from following a rigid plan. It comes from adjusting the dosage when a player’s condition or the context of a match demands it.

Reassuring after a defeat, restarting after a title.

After the defeat against Liverpool at the Parc des Princes on March 5, 2025, Luis Enrique quickly spoke to players he saw as dejected. He told them he was proud of them and maintained his belief that qualification was still possible. Paris then turned the tie around at Anfield.

A few weeks later, with the Ligue 1 title already secured, the coach was still talking about motivation and made nine changes against Le Havre. The pressure changes in nature, but it does not disappear: the next step still has to be prepared, and those who play less still have to stay engaged.

A solid method, but not an infallible one.

Head coach Luis ENRIQUE of PSG and VITINHA of PSG during the Champions League match between Paris and Bratislava at Parc des Princes on September 9, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Baptiste Fernandez/Icon Sport) – Photo by Icon Sport

Luis Enrique’s calm also rests on a framework.

In November 2024, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi reaffirmed his confidence in Luis Enrique and Luis Campos, even in the event of European elimination. That support alone does not explain the results, which also belong to the players and staff, but it gives the coach the possibility of holding to a working line over time. Institutional stability makes his message about progress and patience more credible.

The limits appear when the role becomes too narrow.

Randal Kolo Muani’s departure is a reminder that this method does not work for everyone. In February 2025, the forward explained that he needed playing time and that he was regaining confidence at Juventus.

His case highlights the model’s limit: asking a player to adapt is sometimes necessary, but the staff must also recognize when the role being offered no longer allows room for progress. Luis Enrique himself acknowledged, after a run of injuries in the autumn of 2025, that he had to manage returning players better when they were not yet at 100%.

Criticism is legitimate; forgetfulness less so.

Headcoach of Paris Saint Germain Luis ENRIQUE looks dejected during the Ligue 1 McDonald’s match between Brest and Paris at Stade Francis Le Ble on September 13, 2026 in Brest, France. (Photo by Daniel Derajinski/Icon Sport) – Photo by Icon Sport

September 2026, and the trial is already starting again.

September 2026 once again showed how fragile a coach’s credit remains. After three winless matches and the defeat against Monaco, Luis Enrique’s confidence was judged arrogant by Matthieu Dossevi. A week later, despite the win at Brest, Maxime Chanot wondered on RMC Sport whether his management style was irritating some players, citing Zaïre-Emery’s role and the choices involving Kvaratskhelia or Dembélé. But the pundit admitted he could be wrong. Challenging decisions is legitimate; declaring a fracture based on impressions is less so.

Immunity does not exist; memory should.

Two consecutive Champions Leagues and three league titles do not make Luis Enrique infallible. His rotations can unbalance the team, his communication can irritate, and his decisions should remain open to debate. After Brest, he even included the coach among those who needed to do better. But standards become impatience when they erase everything that came before, and then become forgetfulness when every disputed lineup resets the analysis to zero.

Should Luis Enrique be judged on the last frustrated player, on four matchdays, or on a method that has transformed PSG since 2023? The real question may not be whether to grant him an immunity he does not ask for, but how long our memory will hold up against the next disappointing result.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.