A 'steamroller', Luis Enrique's PSG dissected | OneFootball

Eric Roy, Brest’s coach, has faced Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain many times, in the French Cup and the 2024-2025 Champions League play-off round as well as in Ligue 1. That is why he was invited by Canal+ to describe the transformation the Spaniard has brought to PSG.

Roy: “This PSG team is built for the next 5-6 years.”

This is a team capable of doing everything. In other words, they can play in transition, but also develop a possession-based attacking game when facing very deep blocks. He has the weapons to take on any team, and above all any system or any setup.

What impresses you most about the work he has done in Paris?

I think he has managed to create a team, which has rarely been the case, I think, in Paris, except under Laurent Blanc. Convincing players of that level to put themselves at the service of the team, and that it is through the collective that individual talent can truly shine, that is his greatest victory. And above all, what impresses me is the youth of this squad. I tell myself that this PSG team is built for the next 5-6 years.

Roy: “All the players were involved”

Between the 1st and 2nd season, were there changes in the way they played?

Clearly, because in the first season, even when we played PSG, I knew we would have opportunities to play, the ability to build things, and even create chances. Whereas in the second year, they never let you breathe. As soon as they won the ball back, you were hit by the counter-press, because all the players were involved, everyone was running. There was this feeling that they were a steamroller.

Roy: “The most dangerous thing is the runs coming from the second line.”

Any specific patterns in their play that stood out?

The most dangerous thing is the runs coming from the second line. Not from the forwards, but from the midfielders. It can be Neves, Ruiz. It is often in the half-spaces, not necessarily over long distances. It also happens that Nuno Mendes comes from the third line to make a run into the box. There is movement and freedom within a precise structure to put the opposing defensive system under pressure.

Roy: “It’s the perfect setup for this PSG team.”

Dembélé’s repositioning?

By playing centrally, he can influence the whole pitch. He is not a target player, so he is difficult to track. He creates overloads in midfield. And he has speedsters on the wings; he draws a defender and that creates space for runs. It becomes very difficult for a defense. It’s the perfect setup for this PSG team.

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