After years of betting everything on teams full of talent Paris Saint-Germain recruited Luis Enrique in July 2023 to build an author team. The Qatari ownership of the Parisian club turned to the charismatic Asturian coach, who had just managed the Spanish team, to build a project that, according to what they claim in the city of light, would achieve the desired European success in the medium term. However, reality and the new Champions League are choking on the Spaniard and his players, and PSG’s season is already threatening with a continental failure that could derail the plans of Al Khelaifi and company.
This Tuesday the French champion lost by the minimum in Munich against Bayern. A possible result when you face one of the biggest clubs in Europe in their stadium, but added to the results that PSG had achieved in this competition, it leaves the Parisian team in a very delicate position in the face of qualification for the playoffs.
In the absence of the matches of the fifth day scheduled for this Wednesday being played, Paris Saint-Germain occupies 26th position in the standings, with four points and only three goals scoredso it is not even among the top 24 places that give access to the play-off tie.
Luis Enrique’s men have three complicated games ahead of them, and even more so with the urgent needs that the team now has. In the remainder of the first phase they have to visit Salzburg first, then host Manchester City at the Parc des Princes, and finally travel again to play Stuttgart in Germany.
After the clash at the Allianz Arena Luis Enrique appeared before the media to analyze the match and identify himself as the main culprit for the defeat. «In the first half, we were far from the game. They have managed to suffocate us with their pressure. In the second half we came out better, but Dembélé’s expulsion made us lose our chances,” he argued.
“If anyone is responsible, it’s me.”
Although he pointed out that “responsibility is always global” and “it is not about finding culprits or heroes, it belongs to everyone,” he stood as a shield for his players in the face of criticism, again starring in a moment of tension with a journalist. «I don’t agree that we are looking for excuses. Our project is very interesting, for the future. We show in many games, even when we lose, that we are at the level. If anyone is responsible, it’s me. You’ve already found the culprit, don’t worry. I accept all criticism.”
Luis Enrique’s condescension with another journalist… “calm down” he tells her, with looks and a gesture of sparing her life. It is evident that the nervous one seems more like him. pic.twitter.com/U8frdkQ5VL
— JesúsGallego (@JGALLEGOonfire) November 27, 2024
The attacks on the Spanish coach are being ruthless in France and despite the fact that both Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain have insisted on confidence in the project and that this will be maintained even if there is an unexpected elimination in the Champions League, in some forums the position of the Asturian on the bench at the Parque de los Príncipes is shaky. PSG has never fallen in the first round of the Champions League since the Qatari fund Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) came to the management of the club.
“When defeats come, there is a great desire to attack and look for culprits… I repeat: if there is anyone to blame, it is me,” Luis Enrique challenged.
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