Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has opened up about his firm managerial philosophy regarding Kylian Mbappé, insisting that even the club’s biggest star is treated like any other player inside the dressing room.
During his time in charge at PSG, Enrique has made it clear that reputation and status do not exempt players from responsibility.
His comments come after an incident in which he rebuked Mbappé during a match and instructed him to track the opposition’s right centre-back during the build-up phase — a moment that underlined his belief in discipline and collective responsibility across the squad.
Enrique stressed that his coaching philosophy does not allow any player, regardless of stature, to operate without accountability.
“We don’t have a philosophy of letting Mbappé do whatever he wants and that’s it,” Enrique explained.
The Spanish coach also reflected on the broader culture within football, arguing that excessive admiration of star players can sometimes hinder team success. He suggested that treating players like untouchable figures often leads to reduced accountability and can impact results at the highest level.
“Kylian with PSG’s previous philosophy, important titles weren’t won… The problem footballers have is that THEY ARE TREATED LIKE GODS,” he said.
Enrique described how star players are often shielded from criticism, even when performances fall below expectations. In his view, this creates an environment where honest feedback becomes difficult, particularly when a player’s status overshadows team demands.
“As soon as he scores goals, no one can say anything to him. ‘OH, EVERYONE’S ALL OFFENDED BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS SAID TO THE STAR’,” he added.
Despite his strong stance, Enrique acknowledged Mbappé’s leadership qualities, emphasizing that star players carry greater responsibility to set standards for the rest of the squad rather than operate outside them.
“The stars have to set more examples than the others, like Kylian. Kylian sets the example, but that DOESN’T MEAN HE DOESN’T PLAY BADLY, OK,” he stated.
Enrique concluded by reinforcing the importance of accountability at elite level, noting that constructive criticism remains a necessary part of maintaining performance standards — even for world-class players.
“When he plays badly, his coach can tell him, and besides, he knew it.”
The episode highlighted Enrique’s commitment to discipline and tactical responsibility, reinforcing his belief that at Paris Saint-Germain, every player — including stars like Kylian Mbappé — is expected to contribute fully to both attacking and defensive duties.
