Luis Enrique diverts praise to his PSG players
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique does not believe he has been the star of the FIFA Club World Cup, instead arguing he has 11 stars in his team.
PSG will face Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final in Miami on Monday (AEST), as it bids to complete a clean sweep of trophies at the end of the 2024-2025 season.
Luis Enrique's side has already won Ligue 1, the Trophee des Champions, the Coupe de France and the UEFA Champions League, trouncing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final of the latter competition.
Fresh from becoming just the 11th team to win the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, its domestic league and a domestic cup in the same season, PSG has taken FIFA's expanded tournament by storm.
PSG topped Group B despite a matchday-two defeat to Botafogo, but has since beaten Inter Miami 4-0, Bayern Munich 2-0 and Real Madrid 4-0.
Luis Enrique has earned plaudits for instilling a fluid, front-foot style of play, characterised by a brilliant team move being finished off by Fabian Ruiz for the third goal against Madrid.
But when asked if he was enjoying his most successful period in the game, the former midfielder said: "No. I've been much more successful in periods when we weren't winning and when I was being criticised.
"I didn't want to be a star as a player, I'm not a star. I do my job. I almost feel more comfortable in moments when things don't go well."
PSG has been praised for prioritising the collective since Kylian Mbappe joined Madrid last year, a move that came 12 months after the exits of Lionel Messi and Neymar.
"A team of 11 stars ... that's football," Luis Enrique continued. "That's what we're lucky to have now. Or rather 12, 13, 14 or 15.
"It's a commitment that we made with the president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi], the sporting management and me.
"The real star is the team, a team in which the fans see themselves. Since my first day in Paris, it's something we've chased. We will lose at some point, but the way is clear for us."
PSG is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy, having won its past five knockout-round matches in the Coupe de France, UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup by an aggregate score of 18-0.
But Luis Enrique will not overlook the challenge presented by Chelsea, which has won its past five European or international finals dating back to a 2012 FIFA Club World Cup loss to Corinthians.
The PSG boss said: "It's important to be aware of the difficulty of the match. I like the way they play. There are a lot of individuals but when they have to defend, they know how to put pressure on.
"I think it's going to be a close game. Physically, they are very strong too. We are similar teams in the main aspects of the game.
"We are ready, they are ready. They won the [UEFA] Conference League; we won the [UEFA] Champions League. Anyone who thinks that this will be a formality knows nothing about football."
