Luis Enrique has been linked with the Manchester United manager job and some players in the current squad may be concerned if his preferred formations are implemented
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Head Coach Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Stamford Bridge on March 17, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Luis Enrique continues to be linked with Manchester United(Image: Robin Jones, Getty Images)
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A number of candidates are expected to remain under consideration for the Manchester United job and that will remain the case until a permanent appointment is made official. Luis Enrique was mentioned in connection with a possible move to Old Trafford in 2022, the same year United ultimately appointed Erik ten Hag, while he is now fourth favourite with the bookmakers as the Premier League club look to hire a permanent successor to Ruben Amorim.
Luis Enrique has flourished at Paris Saint-Germain, guiding the club to their maiden Champions League trophy last season. The PSG hierarchy are keen to tie him down to a long-term deal, though questions will remain the longer he waits before extending a deal which is understood to run until 2027.
Michael Carrick's strong start as interim boss may yet prove sufficient to persuade United officials to retain him permanently. Nevertheless, should the club opt to seek alternatives, Luis Enrique's previous track record may give some current squad members hope of thriving in a new system - though others might not be delighted by the news.
In April 2023, just before the PSG manager took over at the Parc des Princes, The Coaches' Voice examined Luis Enrique's favoured formations and strategies. He is very flexible, though, and has demonstrated a willingness to adapt depending on the personnel available to him and the requirements of different competitions. The 55 year old has typically favoured a 4-3-3 formation for both club and country, although he's also demonstrated flexibility by switching to a back three when circumstances demand it. Here's what that could mean for United's existing squad.
4-3-3 (Spain style)
At Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup with Spain, 4-3-3 was Luis Enrique's preferred system. However, there was plenty of variety as far as the composition of those teams was concerned. In Qatar, possession-based Dani Olmo was deployed in a wide position for the memorable 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica - a departure from more direct options like Pablo Sarabia and Mikel Oyarzabal at the previous major tournament.
Reverting to the 2022 blueprint could see Bruno Fernandes shift from midfield into a more advanced position on the left flank. Matheus Cunha's attributes also suit the system, though he may not desire too much upheaval in the midfield three with Casemiro already on his way out, perhaps making it more likely that Fernandes stays in the middle.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 1: Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester Utd during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on March 1, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
A Spain-style approach could offer opportunities for Noussair Mazraoui(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Given the current squad at United's disposal, this approach might require some fresh additions. Luis Enrique preferred a degree of composure at the back with Spain, deploying Rodri as a centre-back during the 2022 World Cup. Such a strategy appears well-suited to Lisandro Martinez, who is comfortable enough in possession to have operated as a defensive midfielder previously.
His preferred approach could provide a pathway back for Noussair Mazraoui ahead of Diogo Dalot at full-back, although the likes of Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt may have concerns about their playing time in central defence. While we've included Manuel Ugarte in this line-up, it's worth remembering the Uruguayan didn't last all that long under the same manager in Paris. He might be handed another opportunity, but it wouldn't be surprising to see a fresh face or two in the centre of midfield.
4-3-3 (PSG style)
The 4-3-3 formation which has served Luis Enrique well at PSG has occasionally utilised a false nine system, with Ousmane Dembele flourishing in that position during last season's Champions League-winning campaign. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue occupied the wide positions in the final, leaving Inter Milan utterly overwhelmed by the attacking menace, while the likes of Bradley Barcola have been used as rotation options.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at Vitality Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Benjamin Sesko might be worried by Goncalo Ramos' treatment at PSG(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
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One player whose future might be uncertain is Benjamin Sesko. There are parallels with Alvaro Morata's role under Luis Enrique with Spain but his nearest equivalent in PSG's squad - Goncalo Ramos - has mostly been used from the bench.
Luke Shaw is another who could find regular game time hard to come by depending on how the manager opts to set up. Luis Enrique favours his full-backs to be energetic players who bomb up and down the pitch with abandon - recall those moments when Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi have linked up - so a 30 year old with an inconsistent fitness history might not be someone he believes he could depend upon.
This could easily be a system that sees Martinez pushing into midfield to provide some equilibrium as the full-backs surge forward. What United might give for the 2022/23 iteration of Casemiro in this squad.
United's squad members know all about what's needed of them in a back three after a year under Amorim, even if results weren't always convincing. The Portuguese tactician made a new wing-back his priority after taking the reins in 2024, bringing in Patrick Dorgu, and the Dane could well be Luis Enrique's preferred option for the left wing-back position in which Nuno Mendes has excelled in Ligue 1.
The manager has tweaked his attacking setup on occasions when deploying a back three. A 3-4-2-1 would have enough parallels with Amorim's approach to suggest a front three comprising Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko could be the way to go.
Luis Enrique made use of the back three against opposition who would allow PSG plenty of the ball. A partnership between Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes wasn't considered viable in the Premier League but it might be part of Luis Enrique's arsenal - though, judging by the manager's history, this particular formation may be used for specific scenarios rather than as a default approach.
Who is at risk?
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 12: Manuel Ugarte of PSG looks on during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes on May 12, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
Manuel Ugarte couldn't hold down a place under Luis Enrique at PSG(Image: Franco Arland, Getty Images)
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It is worth acknowledging there is a considerable degree of flexibility in the strategies Luis Enrique has employed previously. Furthermore, the Premier League differs from both Ligue 1 and international football, meaning that - should he be appointed - the manager would likely favour pre-season experimentation to determine what approach he thinks will work in this new environment.
Some problem positions will undoubtedly be addressed through new signings, but there are players who may already recognise a need to look for pastures new should the Spaniard take charge. Ugarte's situation has already been well documented, while De Ligt, Sesko, Shaw and Dalot could all find their prospects increasingly restricted depending on the incoming manager's preferences.
One would imagine Sesko is the most likely of that group to be given a genuine opportunity to prove his worth, not just because of his transfer fee. The Slovenian has shown clear signs of improvement throughout the course of this season and has been utilised as the focal point of the attack in different systems.
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