PSG lives hanging on Mbappé and the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Real Sociedad was a good example of this. But it also served to further divide the city over the role of the coach, Luis Enrique, flattered by some, criticized by others.
In a hobby that has been waiting for months for the decision that its brightest star will make, there is room to scrutinize the work of the Spanish coach, accustomed to having his own light on the benches he has passed through and that on the shores. of the Sena is somewhat overshadowed by his player.
Although, deep down, his future seems quite linked to that of the player, because the Qatari owner does not seem to be more lenient with him than he was with his predecessors and the measuring stick is in the Champions League, which seems unconquerable without the best version of Mbappé.
La Real, the toughest rival
Against Real Sociedad, which Luis Enrique himself confessed was the best rival that has set foot in the Parc des Princes since he took charge of the team at the beginning of the season, the two tendencies were clear.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the only time that Imanol Alguacil’s machinery was out of adjustment and the coach was judged both for his errors in the starting eleven and for his rectification after the break.
For the striker, the delay in revealing his future has created a honeymoon with the fans, who seem not to want to make any gesture that would displease the player and put an end to the hopes that he will decide to continue his path in Paris and, true to his style, repays that adoration with extraordinary athletic performance.
The Parc des Princes murmurs every time it touches the ball and roars when it does so in the direction of the rival goal, as if there were blind faith that only danger can come from its boots.
Alguacil’s pressure managed to keep him at bay for more than an hour, but he only needed a moment of distraction to break the resistance.
Luis Enrique arouses less enthusiasm. The Spanish coach has not obtained a satisfactory version of collective play and although an idea does emerge over the months, the result is not conclusive.
The initial approach to Real clearly failed. The center of the field was leaking, its engine room was submerged by the pressure from San Sebastian and the idea of placing the young Brazilian Lucas Belardo on the left side and leaving Lucas Hernandez on the bench was a leak through which Take Kubo carried a lot of danger .
But at half-time he knew how to rectify it. According to the players, Luis Enrique’s words in the locker room changed the team’s appearance. “He told us to risk more,” said goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Striker Bradley Bracola recognized the same thing, author of the second goal, but also of a bad first half, in the image of his entire team.
It now remains to be seen if the stands will stay more with the Luis Enrique who made the mistake or with the one who knew how to rectify, because the figure of the coach could be key in the configuration of the new team in the event that Mbappé makes a move next summer.
From being Mbappé’s PSG, the team can become Luis Enrique’s PSG, especially if, as several sources point out, the departure of the striker would not lead to the arrival of any great world star.
That is as long as the coach does not crash in Europe and Qatar decides to give him an account ahead of time. EFE
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