Luis Enrique, now coaching Paris Saint-Germain, hasn’t forgotten his Barça roots. Even as he continues his successful run in France, the former Barcelona player and manager openly expresses affection for the club where he once won the treble.
After PSG’s 4-1 win over Montpellier, Luis Enrique didn’t hesitate when asked about el clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid set for later that day at Montjuïc. He predicted a clear-cut Barça victory: “3-0, easy.”
Just days earlier, after PSG advanced to the UEFA Champions League final by knocking out Arsenal, Luis Enrique spoke about how facing Barcelona in the final would have been personally difficult. He said it would have been “the worst” scenario for him emotionally, and admitted he would have been happy to see Barcelona in the final if PSG hadn’t made it.
Luis Enrique played for Real Madrid before he played for Barcelona, but his loyalty has clearly remained with the Catalans since that switch. A product of Sporting Gijón’s youth academy, he played for the capital club for 5 years before going to Barcelona to play for a further 8 years. As a manager, he coached Barcelona B, AS Roma, Celta Vigo, Barcelona, and the Spanish national team before getting the job at PSG.
Apart from predicting Spanish football’s biggest clash, he also took a moment to reflect on the psychological demands of a Champions League final. According to him, finals are defined not just by tactics or skill, but by how well players manage their emotions. High pressure, unpredictable momentum swings, and overwhelming tension are part of the experience — and handling that is often the key to victory.