Luis Enrique continues to prove why he is the best candidate available for the Manchester United head coach role this summer.
Ineos are still in the process of hiring a head coach at Manchester United this summer and, while Michael Carrick is the favourite because of his successful interim stint, Luis Enrique should not be ruled out.
Gary Neville wants Enrique at United, and many fans will agree that he is the most reputable and experienced manager available.
Enrique is keen to manage in the Premier League, but luring him away from his PSG project will prove difficult, especially as they are marching towards a defence of their Champions League trophy.
PSG manager Luis Enrique on the touchline.
Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
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Luis Enrique dominated Liverpool and Arne Slot despite formation change
PSG beat Liverpool 2-0 in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening, and frankly, Arne Slot was lucky to escape with such a small deficit.
The stats paint the full picture. PSG had 17 shots to Liverpool’s three, and the Merseyside club failed to take a single shot on target. They were limited to just 26% possession and were generally dominated in every area of the pitch.
That is a credit to Enrique’s tactics and style of play, and the Spaniard explained in his post-match comments that he also had to adapt to Liverpool using a new formation for the first time.
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“I believe we played very well tonight with really high level opponents, it was really difficult,” Enrique said.
“They were strong physically, they changed their formation during the match. It was really different in the second half. We are used to this, when we play against different teams they usually change their tactics. We deserved this result and maybe it’s too bad, as in the second half we created a lot of opportunities for ourselves that we couldn’t finish.
“No, no frustration. This is football, it’s what it is about. Sometimes you deserve more, but that’s how it is. You have to accept it.”
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Luis Enrique showed flexibility and refused excuses
United fans have frustratingly watched teams set up in a low block and get a result against the Red Devils far too many times in recent years, and it is a problem that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim faced.
Even Carrick struggled against a low block vs West Ham this season, so the problem remains at Old Trafford.
Liverpool tried to set up defensively and frustrate PSG on Wednesday night, but Enrique’s side put on a masterclass in how to dominate and control a match while systematically breaking down their opponents.
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If Ineos were watching, they will surely have liked what they saw. Enrique quickly adapted to facing a new formation and was unlucky to not walk away with a four or five goal lead.
The fact that it was against United’s arch-rivals makes it all the sweeter.
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