The fact is that Luis Enrique has never been a coach to mince his words, and he once again made it crystal clear in the case of his recent comments. The current Paris Saint-Germain head coach spoke his mind about his discontent with the press during a documentary broadcast by Spanish channel Movistar+. As if that were not enough, he claimed he would agree to a pay cut just not to deal with them.
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Between truth and controversy
The impactful statement that Luis Enrique made in the documentary was straightforward, clear, and revealing. "If they offered me a 25-30% pay cut so that I'd never have to speak to the media again, I'd take it," he said with a sincerity few in sports would admit in public. This outburst is not an attack on journalists but one against the whole post-game interview system in soccer.
The irony of the comment is that frustrated as he evidently is with the media, Luis Enrique continues to confront the interview protocol head-on. He doesn't sidestep the questions, and even when faced with the more controversial of his utterances—as in the pre-match press conference prior to the PSG-Rennes game—he doesn't take flight. "I've never run away from a press conference," he said.
Stars misbehaving?
The other point that was rather controversial in the documentary was Luis Enrique talking about PSG's previous squad, especially about Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé playing upfront. He didn't mince words: "With the previous players, I wouldn't be at PSG."
It is unclear if the documentary got the better of Luis Enrique, who was highly coy amidst the issue during the press conference. Confronted about his comments involving Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé, he laughed it off to dodge. "I don't remember anything anymore," he said with a laugh as he quickly shifted focus, stating firmly he would not talk about statements taken out of context.
Implied, however, is the belief of Luis Enrique that a less star-studded, more team-oriented roster is easier to manage, although he did not say it. Yet, the Spanish coach made his mark at Barcelona while leading a team that had Messi, Suárez, and Neymar at their peak.