In view of the crucial match against Bayern Munich, on Saturday at 6 p.m., Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique highlighted the evolution of his team’s engagement phases, characterized by an increasing predisposition to long forward balloons. He explicitly acknowledged his inspiration in the tactics employed by Olympique Lyonnais. Despite a perfect balance against OL since his arrival at PSG, Luis Enrique continues to appreciate some of the game approaches previously implemented by Lyon coaches, notably during the reigns of Pierre Sage and Paulo Fonseca, who preferred to send long balloons in touch to directly attack the opposing camp.

The Spanish technician confirmed this Lyon influence at a press conference, before the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. He admitted that the PSG had deliberately copied certain play phases of Olympique Lyonnais, without revealing the precise reasons for this decision. He tempered this by stressing that this approach would not be permanent, because other teams are adapting and there is no single solution in football. Luis Enrique mentioned the possibility of exchanging views with other coaches during internships, but stressed that the PSG had consciously adopted this strategy.

Faced with the physical power of Bayern Munich, whose coach Vincent Kompany is known for his tactical approach, the PSG will have to rely on his tactical superiority to defeat his opponents. Players, including Ousmane Dembélé, will have to use their intelligence and control of the game to counter Bavarian physical commitments. The ability of the MTP to adapt and exploit the opponent’s weaknesses will be crucial to achieving a positive result in this long-awaited cup game.