Paris Saint-Germain replaces Gaultier with Luis Enrique

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Paris. Paris Saint-Germain appointed Spain and former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique as their new head coach, hours after the French champions fired Christophe Gaultier, bringing his two-year contract ahead of schedule. There was one year left.

Enrique signed a two-year contract with PSG on Wednesday, making him the Qatar-owned club’s fourth head coach since Thomas Tuchel took over in 2018. Tuchel was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino in January 2021, with Gaultier handed the reins after Pochettino was fired last summer.

“I am delighted to be back in Paris to enjoy a new experience,” Enrique said on Wednesday. “It is very exciting to meet new people, live in this city, learn a new language and, above all, manage PSG.”

The 53-year-old Spaniard led Barcelona to the treble in 2015, also winning the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in the same year. He won another La Liga title with them in 2016 and also won two more Copa del Rey titles with the Catalan team.

Enrique then led the Spanish national team to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and has been in charge of Spain twice since 2018, which was interrupted by the illness and subsequent death of his young daughter. At last year’s World Cup in Qatar, Enrique led La Rosa through a tough group containing Germany, Japan and Costa Rica, but suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Morocco in the Round of 16.

Prior to his Barca days, Enrique, who also won a gold medal for Spain at the 1992 Olympic Games, also coached Roma and Celta Vigo.

In an earlier statement, PSG had announced the sacking of Gaultier, who had one year left to run on his contract.

The 56-year-old helped PSG defend their Ligue 1 title last season, but club owners and supporters have run out of patience with him following the team’s round of 16 exit in the Champions League and a humiliating knockout at the same stage in the French Cup. Got lost

Asked if he has been given any guarantees that superstar forward Kylian Mbappe will remain at the club for the upcoming campaign, Enrique was evasive.

The Spaniard later insisted he was “counting on all the players who are under contract”.

However, PSG president Nasser El-Khelaifi said Mbappe, 24, “will have to sign a new contract” if he wants to stay at the club for the coming season.

Al-Khelaifi said, “The situation is very clear. If Mbappe wants to stay, he must sign a new contract. We cannot let the best player in the world today leave for free. It is impossible.” “He said he would not go for free. If anyone has changed their mind, it is not my fault.”

Mbappe had announced last month that he would not be extending his contract, which expires next year.(IANS)

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