In a post-match revelation that’s stirred widespread discussion across the footballing world, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Luis Enrique has spoken out about a tactical surprise he experienced during a recent European showdown.
While Enrique has gone head-to-head with football’s most elite tacticians — from Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp to Carlo Ancelotti — he admitted that it was Enzo Maresca, the current Leicester City boss, who executed something unlike anything he had ever seen before on the touchline.
Following a tightly fought European knockout game in which PSG edged past Leicester by the narrowest of margins, Enrique paid unexpected tribute to Maresca.
Although PSG advanced courtesy of a late goal by Kylian Mbappé, Enrique’s post-game remarks were focused less on the win and more on the tactical shock Maresca delivered.
Describing him as “one of the most tactically innovative minds” he has encountered, Enrique confessed he had been forced to adapt on the fly due to an unconventional and daring tactical shift introduced by the Italian coach.
At the heart of Maresca’s strategy was a bold reinvention of the goalkeeper’s role. Rather than simply using Mads Hermansen as a sweeper-keeper — a concept made popular by the likes of Ederson and Neuer — Maresca pushed the idea further, assigning Hermansen the role of a second pivot in midfield during Leicester’s controlled possession phases.
According to Enrique, the goalkeeper was seen stepping up to operate alongside the central midfielder, directly influencing build-up play and splitting PSG’s pressing lines in a way that left the French side tactically disoriented.
> “He wasn’t just launching passes or playing high off his line. He was literally standing next to the defensive midfielder, functioning like an outfield player,” Enrique explained. “It totally threw off our pressing system.”
This unexpected approach allowed Leicester to create a temporary numerical advantage in the center of the pitch, slowing PSG’s defensive transitions and forcing Enrique’s side to recalibrate their entire pressing strategy mid-match.
While risky, the tactic showcased Maresca’s bravery and tactical creativity — especially impressive against a club of PSG’s stature.
Though the match ultimately ended in disappointment for Maresca and his squad, many pundits and fans saw his approach as a victory for innovation. Football greats like Arrigo Sacchi labeled the move “borderline tactical madness,” while Thierry Henry lauded it as a refreshing reinvention of the game.
The move sparked debates among analysts, with many suggesting it could inspire similar experimentation in the future.
Enrique, who has seen nearly everything in his storied career, acknowledged that even Guardiola — known for his complex positional systems — had never employed such a daring interpretation of the goalkeeper’s role.
He admitted that for 25 to 30 minutes, PSG were forced into unfamiliar territory tactically.
Despite the loss, Maresca’s reputation grew immensely. His decision to take such a radical risk against a European powerhouse like PSG cemented him as a rising force among modern managers.
Enrique’s words, though tinged with competitive pride, ultimately served as a ringing endorsement of Maresca’s potential.
