Walter Sabatini, the former sporting director of AS Roma, has shed light on Luis Enrique’s single season in charge of the Italian club. Sabatini described how the current Paris Saint-Germain coach faced significant backlash from supporters for his firm approach to handling club icon Francesco Totti, a consequence he accepted without wavering.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper As, as reported by La Gazzetta, Sabatini recounted how he first learned of Luis Enrique through agent Dario Canovi, who indicated the Spaniard’s desire to transition from coaching Barcelona B to a head coaching role in Italy. After sending scouts Frederic Massara and Pasquale Sensibile to assess Enrique’s coaching style, Sabatini personally traveled to Barcelona and was thoroughly impressed.
“No one had considered him as a Serie A coach before,” Sabatini stated. “He was a unique figure in Italian football.”
Enrique’s tenure, despite a modest seventh-place finish and failure to qualify for European competitions, left a lasting impression, largely defined by his relationship with Totti. Sabatini explained the unwritten rule at Roma: “Whoever touches Totti commits a mortal sin.” He acknowledged that Luis Enrique understood that questioning Totti’s position would be detrimental to his standing with the fans. However, Enrique remained steadfast in his principles, unwilling to compromise his beliefs for personal convenience. Sabatini characterized him as “a man of great consistency.”
While Totti reportedly held a degree of respect for Enrique, nicknaming him “Zichichi” as a sign of admiration, the coach’s decision to bench the club legend ignited the fury of the Roma fanbase.
“He didn’t care what people thought,” Sabatini said. “He pursued his style of football and accepted the price to pay.”
Beyond the Totti situation, Luis Enrique’s coaching methods had a profound impact on those within the club. Sabatini recalled Daniele De Rossi, a World Cup winner, expressing his astonishment after training sessions. “He would come to my office and tell me: ‘In training he develops so many concepts that I feel like I have never played football before,'” Sabatini recounted. “He was enthusiastic, in love with that type of football.”
Enrique’s dedication extended to his daily routine. Despite living on the opposite side of Rome, he would often cycle to the club’s Trigoria training ground. This detail exemplifies the same relentless and self-sufficient character that has since propelled him to the pinnacle of club football with PSG.
