In a candid and insightful interview, Luis Enrique, former manager of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), opened up about his reservations regarding Kylian Mbappé’s role in the team and the club’s previous approach to building their squad.

Reflecting on the PSG squad of last year, which boasted stars like Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé himself, Luis Enrique admitted that joining PSG was never truly an option for him.

He explained that the club’s policy of signing the biggest individual stars did not align with his football philosophy.

“I never considered PSG as one of my options because of that policy of signing the best players,” he said.

“There is now a very clear change, and they have expressed it to me: they want to build a team.”

Luis Enrique emphasized the importance of collective play over individual brilliance.

“You can no longer be individualistic; you have to think collectively.

From the moment I said ‘I don’t want him,’ I think it’s important that this player steps out, that this player steps out,” he remarked, underlining his stance on prioritizing team dynamics.

He acknowledged Mbappé’s extraordinary talent, calling him the best player in the world currently, but stressed that having the best player does not guarantee success.

“If only the team with the best player in the world won, PSG would have eight Champions League titles, but they have zero,” he pointed out.

This statement highlights the reality that football is a team sport where collective effort outweighs individual talent.

Luis Enrique also revealed the tactical challenges Mbappé presented.

“Mbappé is a player who does not defend; he never has.

It’s very difficult for him to defend, so we have adapted the system to make sure Mbappé runs as little as possible in defense,” he explained.

The reasoning was clear: Mbappé’s value lies in his attacking prowess—scoring 50 goals and providing 25 assists—so the team had to protect him to maximize his impact.

He described how the team adjusted their pressing strategy to accommodate Mbappé’s defensive limitations.

“If you don’t run, it’s that clear.

If you come here, what you have to do is score,” he said.

“You have to mark a zone; if there are two, I stay in the middle zone so the opponent can’t play the pass there.”

Luis Enrique recounted a tense moment during a Champions League match, emphasizing the importance of collective defensive effort.

He compared leadership on the pitch to Michael Jordan’s mentality in basketball, where even the best players take responsibility for defense.

“Michael Jordan grabbed his teammates by the balls and defended like crazy.

When you can’t help with goals, you help defensively,” he said.

He praised players like Usman, Columani, Barcola, Gonzalo, and Marco Asensio for stepping up defensively when needed.

Despite the challenges, Luis Enrique expressed his admiration for Mbappé, both as a player and a person.

“I would have liked Mbappé to continue with us because he is a number one player, no doubt,” he said.

“But as a person, he is even better—affectionate, educated, attentive, correct.

Spectacular.

” Yet, he acknowledged the reality of the situation, noting that Mbappé is no longer the cornerstone of the project.

“The base of the project is the team, as always.

The team is above all.

It’s no longer our priority.”

Luis Enrique reflected on the control issues Mbappé’s free movement on the pitch caused.

“Having a player who moves wherever he wants means there are game situations I don’t control,” he admitted.

“Next year, I will control all of them, without exception.”

He also addressed criticism and unrealistic expectations placed on players.

“Sometimes I hear nonsense at press conferences and think, ‘Wow, what do they think? That I’m some divine being?’” he said.

He stressed humility, reminding players that footballers are not special beings.

“If they made you special, they are fooling you because you stop being special the moment you retire.

Special people are those who save lives or dedicate their entire lives to helping others.

We are very fortunate beings with a skill that is well paid.”

Luis Enrique remains confident in his team’s capabilities.

“I still think we are better in attack and defense; the numbers are there,” he said.

“The team and players have taken this as a challenge.

We would have loved to have Mbappé, and the players surely loved him too, but I think the team is responding spectacularly.”

He outlined his vision for a more balanced goal distribution: “I said I’d love to have four players scoring 12 goals each instead of one scoring 40.

Two have already surpassed those numbers, and we invite the others to join.

That is our objective as a team: to improve.”

Looking ahead, Luis Enrique is optimistic.

“Last year we were competitive, and this year we will be competitive again.

Until proven otherwise, I think we will win all competitions,” he declared boldly.

“That’s my goal, and that’s why I get up every morning.

I will surely make mistakes, but I say it openly and without hesitation.”

Luis Enrique’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the complexities of managing a star-studded team and balancing individual talent with collective success.

His philosophy underscores that even the greatest players must fit within a system designed for the team’s overall good.

As PSG moves forward, embracing this team-first mentality may be the key to unlocking the Champions League glory that has so far eluded them.