"Someone Special": Former Barcelona Star Praises Luis Enrique

Ivan Rakitić knows Luis Enrique better than almost anyone. Managed by the Spanish coach for three seasons at FC Barcelona, the former Croatian international delivered a glowing tribute to the current Paris Saint-Germain manager during an interview with Canal+.

Luis Enrique leaves a strong impression everywhere he goes. Rakitić admits he was deeply influenced by the PSG coach. For the former Barcelona midfielder, Luis Enrique’s greatest strength goes far beyond tactics alone.

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Luis Enrique’s Winning Philosophy

“He’s not only a great coach, he’s a great person. He’s someone special. He can bring out the full potential of his players,” Rakitić explained, before highlighting the Spanish manager’s total commitment. According to him, Luis Enrique lives football from morning to night and constantly works to build “a perfect machine” in every detail, from training sessions to breakfast at the training center.

The former Barça midfielder believes Luis Enrique’s rare quality lies in understanding exactly what a team truly needs. “He understood that the best players do not automatically make the best team,” Rakitić said. A philosophy that, in his view, allows the Spanish coach to get the very best out of every player through a personalized approach adapted to each personality in the dressing room.

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Rakitić also sees many similarities between the great FC Barcelona side of 2015 and the current Paris Saint-Germain team. He pointed to the midfield combinations, the perfectly coordinated movements, and the chemistry between the players. For him, footballers like Vitinha are now performing “like machines,” with every player knowing exactly how to support his teammate. The former Croatian international concluded with a powerful statement: “That’s the difference between the best teams and the truly great teams.”

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