Unconvincing win at Brest: tension simmers between Luis Enrique and his players

Paris Saint-Germain claimed their first Ligue 1 victory of the season on Sunday, winning away at Brest (0-1) with a goal from Ferran Torres in the fourth matchday. After two draws against Rennes (2-2) and Lille (2-2) and a home defeat to Monaco (1-2), the win was expected — but it convinced no one at the club.

Luis Enrique made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction after the match. “If I’m honest about the game and what I liked? Nothing. I think we need to do much better. If you want to win the way we want to win, you can’t be satisfied with that. I expect more from my players. We need to control the ball more, there were moments when we didn’t have possession. We need to improve that, for all the players and the coach too,” the Spanish manager said.

These comments come amid emerging tensions between the coach and part of his squad, according to analysis from consultant Maxime Chanot. The former centre-back believes several players are beginning to show frustration with Luis Enrique’s choices. “I have the feeling that some players are a bit annoyed with Luis Enrique. The way Zaïre-Emery played in the second half… I get the impression he’s frustrated with Luis Enrique for being moved around — left-back, right-back, defensive midfielder. I don’t want to create controversy but I have the feeling that Kvara is also making him pay a bit for not playing the last match, Dembélé coming off twice in a row… I have the feeling that Luis Enrique’s management is irritating the players. Maybe I’m wrong,” he elaborated.

Chanot goes further, pointing to a decline in collective fulfilment compared to the second half of last season. “You don’t see the same flourishing in certain players as we saw last year, particularly in the second half of the season. Maybe the early matches don’t interest them as much. There’s also perhaps a comedown from winning the double. As long as results follow, generally everyone gets along. We shouldn’t let Luis Enrique’s management turn against him,” he concluded.

PSG, the defending champions, therefore sit with just one victory from four Ligue 1 matchdays. Luis Enrique will need to quickly restore collective cohesion if the club is to defend its title in the coming weeks.