Became The Premier League’S Youngest Manager [EN]: Chapter 175

175. The Beginning of a Legend

Luis Enrique.

At 53 years old, the Spanish native was a legend in Spanish football, renowned for his incredible tactical versatility. He played as an attacker, midfielder, and even a full-back, a rare feat. He uniquely played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, and represented Spain in three World Cups.

After retiring, he began coaching Barcelona B, Barcelona’s reserve team. He then managed AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A and Celta Vigo in Spain’s Primera Liga, but his performance was not considered particularly outstanding.

Just as he seemed destined to join the ranks of legends whose managerial careers paled in comparison to their playing days, a turning point arrived. He surprisingly took over as Barcelona’s coach, succeeding his former teammate Pep Guardiola, who had established the team as the world’s strongest for four seasons before departing.

Overcoming initial skepticism, he successfully implemented a more direct and aggressive style compared to Guardiola’s possession-based tiki-taka [a style of play characterized by short passing and movement]. In two seasons, he secured six trophies, extending Barcelona’s era of dominance after Guardiola’s exit.

Later, as the Spanish national team’s head coach, Luis Enrique didn’t win major tournaments like the World Cup or the Euros. However, he consistently achieved respectable results, earning praise for guiding the team through a period of decline from their peak.

The only club capable of luring him back from his contented role with the national team was Manchester City, where he could once again succeed Pep Guardiola, just as he had at Barcelona.

A tactical mastermind with both flexibility and the charisma to command the locker room, he possessed a firm conviction that earned the trust of players and executives, despite occasional criticism for being autocratic.

Having taken the helm at Manchester City, he quickly adapted to the Premier League, winning four and drawing one of his first five games. He now faced Burnley amidst another intense title race with Liverpool.

As he watched his sixth Premier League game, the words Pep Guardiola, his former teammate and predecessor at Barcelona B, Barcelona, and now Manchester City, had earnestly told him kept swirling in Luis Enrique’s mind.

‘I don’t know about anything else, but when you face Burnley and Hyungmin Kim, expect the unexpected. Things that defy common sense often happen, so be prepared.’

Whether it was the lingering effect of conceding two hat-tricks [three goals scored by one player in a single game] to the same player, or the weight of being the manager against whom Kim had his best record, he initially dismissed his friend’s words as an exaggeration.

But this is absurd, no matter how you look at it!

While the monster Erling Haaland, who had been terrorizing the Premier League, was being neutralized by a 19-year-old defender, Burnley had more shots than Manchester City?!

Burnley’s fluid and intricate attacking play from the previous season had become cruder, but their relentless energy and pressing were overwhelming Manchester City.

“Attack! Attack!”

“Press! Press!”

Can’t you just pick one!

Luis Enrique wore a bewildered expression as he watched Burnley’s manager and head coach standing side-by-side in the technical area, shouting instructions to the players.

***

“Attack! Attack!”

“Press! Press!”

Despite the loud shouts from the sidelines, the fired-up Burnley players were fiercely pressing one of the Premier League’s top teams even without such encouragement.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City’s world-class midfielder, staggered back with a groan before collapsing onto the grass.

The Belgian national team’s star lay on the ground, but with the referee’s whistle silent, Manchester City’s teammates had more pressing concerns than tending to their injured player.

“Defense! Defense! Hold the line!”

“They’re coming again!”

As Manchester City’s defense frantically communicated, Nicolas Seiwald, after intercepting a Manchester City counterattack near the center circle, immediately threaded a pass towards the opponent’s penalty box.

“Damn it!”

Rodri, Manchester City’s defensive midfielder, cursed as the ball sailed past him. Burnley’s central striker, Lorenzo Lucca, flanked by Manchester City’s two center-backs, John Stones and Rúben Dias, received the ball with his back to the goal.

Thud!

A defender collided with him from behind, but the towering Italian striker leaned back, shrugged off his opponent, and laid the ball off forward again.

“Lucca!”

“Got it!”

Lucca Sučić, Burnley’s midfielder, received the rolling ball.

The second Lucca, jokingly referred to as one of the ‘Three Luccas’ by Burnley’s players, received the pass and fiercely swung his right foot, sending the ball to the third Lucca.

“Lupe!!”

“I’m going!!”

Luca Pellegrini, Burnley’s left-back, who had surged forward from his defensive zone, received the ball, completing a triangular pass made up entirely of Luccas.

Most of Manchester City’s attackers were still out of position after their failed counterattack, the two center-backs were occupied with containing the opposing striker, and even the defensive midfielder was out of the play.

As he watched Burnley’s young defender dribbling towards him, Manchester City’s right-back Kyle Walker gritted his teeth.

He had to buy time for the attacking players to return and help defend…

The young Italian defender, nicknamed ‘Lu.Pe.’ because there were too many Luccas, ignored the veteran defender’s desperate expression and threaded a sharp pass forward along the sideline.

“Fucking hell!”

Kyle Walker cursed, but the ball had already passed him, and Jamal Lewis, Burnley’s left-winger, was surging towards the corner flag, chasing the ball.

How did these guys get up here?

He had clearly seen Burnley’s players retreating as Manchester City’s counterattack unfolded, but they had somehow swarmed Manchester City’s defense and were tightening the noose.

As Kyle Walker turned with a despairing look, even Luca Pellegrini, who hadn’t slowed down, passed him and ran towards the goal line.

Relentless pressing, and short, precise passes to exploit any openings.

Kyle Walker watched the full-back running to provide a short passing option for the attacker near the corner flag with a hollow expression.

He was intimidated by their boundless energy.

Manchester City’s veterans had anticipated Burnley’s players’ stamina would wane in the second half, but they were running even harder, as if it were their last game.

What the hell did that crazy manager say at halftime?

As he dragged his heavy heart and legs towards his penalty box, Kyle Walker sighed as he saw the long cross coming from the corner flag.

“Damn it!!”

Manchester City’s center-back John Stones cursed as he leaped into the air.

A standout defender trusted by Gareth Southgate in the England national team and valued by Luis Enrique after Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Now 29, he possessed the experience and savvy of a veteran, and the inconsistency that had once been a weakness had been completely eradicated.

But even for him, a runner-up at the Euros with England, there were limitations.

For example, winning a header against a striker 13 centimeters taller than him from a standstill?

“Gah!”

Burnley’s central strikers had always had distinct characteristics.

Looking back, Chris Wood and Wout Weghorst were tall and massive, with subtle skills and dirty tactics that drove defenders crazy.

Benjamin Šeško, who followed them, was also tall, and although not as physically imposing as his predecessors, he had quick feet and a knack for positioning, constantly changing positions and seeking opportunities.

He was like Erling Haaland, his Manchester City teammate, before he had fully developed his physique.

Taejin Jung, who briefly shone in the second half of last season, had lost some physical ability due to age, but compensated with tremendous experience and an eye for opportunities that no one else noticed.

Lorenzo Lucca wasn’t as skilled as Chris Wood or Wout Weghorst, nor as fast as Benjamin Šeško, nor as experienced as Taejin Jung.

Instead, this Italian striker possessed something they lacked.

Thump!

Overwhelming aerial dominance due to his incredible height of over 2 meters and unbelievable jumping ability.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

And exceptional heading skills, allowing him to direct the ball wherever he wanted, whenever, and however.

Frankly, John Stones didn’t care that Lucca had honed those skills through hard work and dedication.

If that story were told in a documentary, he would have secretly donated while choking back tears, but right now, he had to wipe the grass off his face amidst the cheers erupting from the stands.

“Damn it!”

He didn’t need to hear Manchester City’s goalkeeper Ederson cursing from behind to know what had happened.

“Hahaha!!”

“That was awesome!”

“My cross was great!”

Damn it, can’t you celebrate outside our penalty box?

As the England defender ignored the grass he had painstakingly removed and buried his face in the ground again, Burnley’s young players celebrated their opening goal after a fierce battle.

At that moment, no one truly knew it, but it was the beginning of a legend that would be etched in Premier League history.