Ask Mina: Luis Enrique's brilliance and battle for the Ballon d'Or

The National

3 days ago

Q: Inter collapse or PSG masterclass? What's your take?
@Rozario_11 via Instagram
A: It's a little bit of both, but I would credit Paris Saint-Germain with delivering a tactical masterclass in last Saturday's Uefa Champions League final.
PSG, unlike in previous seasons, were the most balanced side in the competition. While their movement and fluidity in possession were impressive, it was their relentless work off the ball that ultimately secured them the coveted trophy.
Luis Enrique knew how to neutralise Inter's threats and expose their weaknesses. Club football's biggest trophies are won when players are willing to sacrifice and work hard for one another.
Seeing top goalscorer Ousmane Dembele pressing Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to force him into long balls made a huge difference.
Inter are an accomplished side in possession, but they were simply not permitted to rotate the ball and build opportunities. Every lane was blocked, and every player was tightly marked. Watch how Achraf Hakimi closed down passing lanes while PSG's midfielders remained tight when marking opponents. When the first defensive pass broke down, Inter went into disarray.
PSG pressed and harried and forced mistakes. Once the Parisiens won back possession, it was wave after wave of clever attacks, designed to isolate and confuse the Nerazzurri backline.
Luis Enrique capitalised on the youth of the squad; they ran relentlessly, made 22 clearances, robbing Inter of control and time, and had 23 shots on goal.
Q: Do you think Luis Enrique's PSG could create a similar legacy to Pep's Barca?
@Vermiciouskinid via Instagram
A: If there's any coach who can create a winning legacy, it's Luis Enrique. In my opinion, he's the best coach in the world, at par with Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. He's been underrated for so long that it's stupefying. Rarely have I heard his name mentioned when the debate on the best coaches in the world comes up.
Former Barcelona striker described Enrique as "the best coach I've ever had. For the personality he has, for what he transmits and for the sincerity he has."
Another former Barca alumnus, Lionel Messi, said: "I was lucky that I had a lot of time with Guardiola and Luis Enrique, the two best. Having them [for so long] made me grow a lot in football and in the tactical wisdom that they taught me."
Daniele De Rossi, a former Italy international and World Cup winner, recently hailed Enrique as "perhaps the coach who impressed me the most in my career".
PSG are lucky to have a coach who can produce the kind of football we've seen from PSG, especially in the second half of the season.
Armed with a young squad, a great sporting director in Luis Campos who can identify the best of talents, and with lots of money in the bank, the future looks incredible.
Rather than buying established talents, they brought in youth with great potential. The €50 million spent on Desire Doue from Rennes could turn out to be the deal of the century, while the purchase of Kvara Kvaratskhelia from Napoli made a huge difference to the team's performance.
The squad was one of the youngest in the Champions League, and the average age of the starting XI in the final was 25 years. This is the beginning of what I imagine can be a glorious winning project.
Q: What's gone wrong at Leicester City?
@_Jonfollows
A: Disjointed planning, poor results, and a breakdown in trust between fans and the club's leadership all contributed to a toxic atmosphere and growing uncertainty about the future.
It was always going to be tough to lose Enzo Maresca, but I can't comprehend the thinking behind hiring Steve Cooper, spending money, and then sacking him after 12 games.
To then hire and stick with Ruud van Nistelrooy as they were hurtling towards relegation also seemed bizarre. The club didn't know whether to stick or twist.
The side lacked midfield creativity and appeared tactically confused. Goals were especially hard to come by; the team failed to score in eight consecutive games. Under Van Nistelrooy, there didn't appear to be a clear attacking strategy and the shape was often too rigid.
Players were second-guessing themselves on the pitch. Every move was overthought, every pass was played with hesitation.
There needs to be a squad overhaul, and the club must have a clear direction. They can't just depend on a coach to bring it all together.
Q: AC Milan have confirmed Max Allegri as their new coach. I understand you're a fan of his. What makes him so special?
@Iam_tim via Instagram
A: I am a fan of his because I'm a Juventus fan and under his guidance, Juventus became a force in Europe and won the double practically every season during his first stint as coach. I think he overachieved with the squad he had, considering Antonio Conte quit because he thought the club's ambitions were too grand and almost delusional. Allegri arrived and they reached the Uefa Champions League final.
Creating a winning dynasty is difficult, but Allegri made it look easy. Even with the best squad in Italy, Inter couldn't win relentlessly, and yet Allegri's Juve did. Always aiming for the treble.
He beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Uefa Champions League with Stefano Sturaro in midfield, a player with limited quality. He knows how to make players play with their heart, how to mask weaknesses and how to allow his best players the freedom to dictate.
He's a practical coach; he doesn't dazzle, but he wins. He creates a winning mentality and a harmonious atmosphere and knows how to keep it all together when a club doesn't provide the necessary support.
He cannot produce the type of football Luis Enrique or Guardiola can. The beauty lies in his tactical simplicity. He never overcomplicates it.
Q: Who should win the Ballon d'Or this season? And who do you think will win it?
@Sasahsani via Instagram
A: There are so many candidates who have dazzled this season, from Mohamed Salah to Lamine Yamal and, of course, Dembele.
Dembele is the favourite . He has contributed 33 goals and 13 assists in 55 appearances for PSG this season. Not only did he win the quadruple with PSG but also the Uefa Champions League Player of the Season and Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards.
His performance in the Champions League final was mesmeric, sacrificing himself to help the team defend. His work off the ball has been as impressive as his offensive contributions. He proved to be a leader.
The Ballon d'Or should go to the team that has won the most trophies, and he is rightfully the favourite.