How Luis Enrique's Secret Lucas Hernández Plan Shut Down Lamine Yamal

Luis Enrique never stops surprising with his decisions at the helm of PSG, and the match against Barcelona was no exception. Apparently, he told Lucas Hernández he'd start just minutes before kickoff, as he often does.

Everyone wondered who would finally replace Nuno Mendes on Tuesday in PSG's match against Barcelona, after the Portuguese player suffered an injury in Strasbourg the previous Saturday. Apparently, even the Parisians didn't know until minutes before kickoff.

According to RMC Sport, Luis Enrique did not reveal his starting lineup to anyone until 6:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday. In other words, just two and a half hours before kickoff, when most people were betting on Warren Zaïre-Emery to fill that role.

In any case, Enrique's gamble paid off: the French World Cup winner dominated his one-on-one against Lamine Yamal. So much so that Désiré Doué, who was named the match's MVP by UEFA, declared Lucas Hernández the best player on the pitch.

Meanwhile, Enrique praised his incredible marking of one of the world's best players and said he was especially happy for him. According to RMC, the Spanish coach made it clear to his player that he needed to mark Yamal closely from the opening minutes to send a clear message to Barcelona. Hernández evidently took that instruction seriously and marked him throughout the 78 minutes he spent on the pitch.

"I knew that if I stayed close to him and was aggressive, I would make things difficult for him," Hernández said after the match.

Applauded for his defensive work, Hernández heard his name being chanted in the 72nd minute when he rose inside the opposition's penalty area to make it 2-1 and give Paris Saint-Germain the lead. After scoring, he quickly made his way over to his family in the stands.

"Scoring this goal with my children here in the stands is unique and special," Lucas said after the match.

After the game, once everyone had left, Hernández's children took advantage of the Parc des Princes pitch to imitate their father alongside one of Achraf Hakimi's children. Lucas Hernández's wife was also nearby.

It was further proof that the Parisian dressing room is united not only on the pitch but also in an almost brotherly way.

While all this was happening, PSG's No. 21 was giving interviews to the media. Inside the Parc des Princes, the hero of the night stopped to speak with Canal Plus before heading to the mixed zone to address the written press and radio journalists.

Judging by Doué's comments about him, it is safe to assume that Hernández experienced a special moment and atmosphere in the dressing room after the final whistle.

A great night for the Frenchman.