The new grand strategy of PSG and Luis Enrique for training

After words, actions. If PSG has often repeated its desire to place training at the heart of its project in recent years, the choices of its former coaches have not always been in line with this approach. We think in particular of Mauricio Pochettino or Christophe Galtier (who nevertheless accelerated the explosion of Warren Zaire-Emery, let’s remember, editor’s note), not the most fond, nor the most excited about the idea of ​​betting on talents from of the training center. In other proportions, Thomas Tuchel had tried to do it, even if PSG supporters continually criticized him for never having given Xavi Simons his chance.

In his defense, the German had at least allowed other players like Tanguy Kouassi, Stanley Nsoki and Moussa Diaby to express themselves. “I had Xavi Simons very young in Paris (he was 16). It’s clear that he had a lot of potential, but it was difficult (to play him, editor’s note) given the offensive sector of Paris at the time.he said in September last year. Today, Paris has chosen to rely on Luis Enrique, a coaching profile with a philosophy very focused on youth, and for whom age has never really been a factor likely to slow him down. It was he who, for example, called Gavi up for the first time in the Spanish selection in 2021, aged 17 and with only 6 professional matches under his belt.

Paris wants to integrate as many Titis as professionals

We know how fragile a policy focused on training can be, but Luis Enrique does not intend to betray what constitutes his identity card. According to The Parisianthe PSG coach recently invited pre-training and training coaches to a large round table, in order to reassure them about his intentions with regard to young people. Moreover, no coach since Thomas Tuchel had made such commitments by bringing everyone together in Paris, specifies the daily. During this discussion lasting more than two hours, Luis Enrique and his deputies were able to present their ideas and game precepts to educators. “This moment of enriching exchanges and sharing between the technical staff of the professional team and all the members of the training was particularly valuable”rejoiced Luis Campos in comments reported by The Parisian.

This meeting was also an opportunity to address this recent shift taken by the club, namely the establishment of the same playing identity for all teams. The objective? Promote the development and exodus of Parisian talents towards the professional group. It is no coincidence that the U17s and U19s already operate in a tactical pattern similar to that of the first team. A global strategy, a bit like what Barça has been able to implement with La Masia in recent years, even if Paris refuses to make any comparison with its Catalan counterpart. Concretely, the idea is to place his young thumbs in a certain comfort, so that they can be instantly operational in the event of promotion to the pros. It now remains to be seen who will be the next Zaire-Emery, Mayulu, Zague or Mbaye.