Zidane draws inspiration from Luis Enrique's PSG to build his France

Zinedine Zidane unveiled his football philosophy by designating Luis Enrique’s PSG as a reference point for the French national team during an interview with Téléfoot on Sunday morning.

The new manager, who succeeds Didier Deschamps after fourteen years in charge, intends to break with his predecessor’s pragmatism. His vision is built on ball possession, very high pressing and increased creativity — principles he acknowledges sharing with the Parisian double European champions.

« Ah yes, there are many principles of play that I appreciate. It’s a team that takes initiative, that presses its opponent very high up the pitch. It wants to play with the ball and not chase after it. That’s everything I like. Those are my principles of play, » Zidane said.

The former midfielder and 1998 World Cup winner claims personal consistency in this choice: « I was a midfielder and I didn’t like chasing the ball. » He tempers expectations nonetheless, aware that possession alone is not enough: « We must not have simply sterile possession. In the final 30-40 metres, we need that acceleration and find certain gaps that allow us to be more dangerous, but that will come. »

This change of direction is accompanied, according to Zidane, by modifications in the human management and living conditions of the Blues. The « Spanish touch » he claims — forged during his years at Real Madrid — marks a clear break with the Deschamps era and outlines the contours of a more ambitious French team in terms of play.