Imagine Didier Deschamps responding with ease, alone in front of the camera, to a question from PierrotMontargis45200 on the level of refereeing during this World Cup. Or confide, at the request of KikidesLandes, that he prefers surfing in Hossegor rather than skiing in Courchevel… This science fiction scenario in our beautiful country is a reality on the other side of the Pyrenees.
Since the start of the World Cup in Qatar, Luis Enrique added the streamer function on Twitch to his panoply of coach of Spain, marvelously entering the competition Wednesday against Costa Rica (7-0). This Saturday evening, the day before the huge shock against Germany, the boss of La Roja hosted his sixth show, relaxed in a “gamer” chair in the colors of the national team, headphones on.
A program built on the same principle as the previous five: start at 8 p.m. (French and Spanish time, 10 p.m. in Doha) for a review of the past day with details on training or the composition of meals. Then about three quarters of an hour of answers to the (very) varied questions that the former coach of FC Barcelona (2014-2017) catches on the fly on the discussion forum.
Already 700,000 subscribers
Inevitably, it goes in all directions. Fernando Hierro’s successor after a disappointing 2018 World Cup in terms of substance and form (elimination in the round of 16 against Russia) can explain why he is reluctant to field the same team twice in a row, before slipping in stride that he has three dogs and loves wolves. He knows how to praise the qualities of Chelsea right-back César Azpilicueta (who passed through OM), underrated in his country according to a follower, then admits to preferring the tortilla without onion.
Without forgetting to talk about cycling, another of his passions, by redoing the last Tour de France or by slipping that the Zoncolan (in Italy) and the Angliru are the hardest passes he has climbed. Jokesman and charismatic, Luis Enrique gives the impression of having “streamed” all his life. He’s having fun, it feels and it can be measured: since its premiere on November 18, his channel has already compiled nearly 700,000 subscribers.
“Communication without filters”, therefore without press
By way of comparison, the two French bosses of the specialty, Squeezie and Gotaga, claim nearly 4 million. But by his age (52 years) and his course, the former hybrid environment with 62 selections necessarily has nothing to do with these twenty-somethings fed to Web culture. “The idea, initially a bit crazy, is to establish a direct relationship with you, the enthusiasts, those who may be interested in information on the selection, released Luis Enrique on November 14 in a video on Instagram, to announce his initiative. Direct, unfiltered, more spontaneous communication. »
In other words, without going through the traditional media, even if Luis Enrique is obliged to participate in press conferences, from which escape from time to time tensions that date back to the last century. Exactly in the spring of 1996, when the Madrid sports daily brand, informed of the future transfer of the Real player to the hated Catalan rival, had sent a photographer to immortalize his medical visit to a hospital. The arrival of the paparazzi had triggered the fury of the sanguine Asturian, at the same time as his anger against an entire profession, never denied since.
The story was told by The Team during Euro 2021, ended with a very honorable semi-final lost on penalties against the future Italian winner. But the coach, cataloged pro-Barça, had previously taken it to his head, like an Aimé Jacquet pre-World Cup 1998, in particular from the Madrid press, revolted by his choice of not having retained any player from the Real (there are two at the World Cup, Carvajal and Asensio).
Many reviews
The inimitable columnists of the show The Chiringuito and other prominent journalists like Paco Gonzalez (Cadena Cope) again released the sulphate, barely divulging the choice of Luis Enrique to appear on Twitch. An idea equated, among other grievances, with “a desire for notoriety” and a lack of professionalism, since he systematically misses the first halves of the matches of the first round scheduled at 8 p.m.…
“This show is not made to argue, to annoy the media or to take the pressure off the players,” said the coach in one of his sessions. “We know where we are, who we are, the pressure we are under. If we talk about me, perfect, but that’s not the goal, ”also says the one who likes despite everything to expose his still lean and muscular marathon runner body (another string to his bow) to the 319,000 subscribers of his special World Cup Instagram accountopen only since November 11.
As famous as Cervantes and Rafael Nadal across the Pyrenees, Ibai Llanos (12 million subscribers on Twitch) was much more offensive against the technician’s detractors after the rouste inflicted by La Roja on the Ticos on Wednesday.
First game: Luis Padrique [le surnom de Luis Enrique sur la plateforme] 7-0, had struck the very influential videographer, who had collected the first words of Lionel Messi when he arrived in Paris. I sincerely believe, and this is no joke, that if Spain wins the World Cup, it will be thanks to Twitch. This generates a union within the group and it receives an affection that it would not have received without Twitch. »
Intrafamily humor
The 50-year-old is expanding his audience to a young target who can only recognize himself in a selection where kids like the incredible Gavi (18) or Pedri, 20 since Thursday, shine. An event of course mentioned by his boss in the evening show. Barely older, Dani Olmo (24) (necessarily) supported his coach’s initiative this Saturday at a press conference: “He seems perfect to me, judged the RB Leipzig striker. Looking at it, we have a good time, just like the 100,000 people who see it in Spain. »
We can perhaps remove two: her daughter Sira and her boyfriend Ferran Torres, also a Barça and Selección striker. “If he scores and he makes the gesture of the pacifier to celebrate his goal, I take him out of the field immediately, thus dropped Beau-Papa. And he won’t even set foot in a football stadium again. »
No show on game nights
Joking (more or less good) aside, Luis Enrique does not hesitate to highlight his staff, like Rafael Pol, the physical trainer of La Roja, invited to answer questions from subscribers on Friday about his job and his career. Nice and complicit moment between the two longtime friends, despite a sound worthy of a village hall lotto. Inevitably, when this article ends, you have only one desire: to attend the show this Sunday evening, after the shock of the first round Spain – Germany.
Sorry, we will have to wait, as the “videographer coach” explained on the eve of the biggest score of this World Cup: “Whether we win or lose, I will not be streaming right after the matches. My voice is weakened after each encounter due to my shouting. And my energy is so low it would be a decaffeinated version of Luis Enrique. Appointment is made on Monday at 8 p.m., to share a good ristretto with “Lucho”.