‘I’m coming home’ – PSG manager Luis Enrique on facing Barcelona in UCL
Barcelona have been handed one of the toughest draws in the Champions League quarterfinals as they take on Paris Saint-Germain next month.
The game will mark the return of Luis Enrique, who had once led Barcelona to a Champions League title in 2015.
Speaking about his impending return to Barcelona, Enrique said, “I’m coming home, like Christmas.”
“Barcelona is a very special place for me, while PSG and Barça are two teams that we have shared many things together. A lot of curiosity,” the Spaniard added.
Luis Enrique was the coach of Barcelona between 2014 to 2017. Having led the team to a treble in 2015, he is considered the most successful Barça coach after Pep Guardiola.
Enrique was notably the coach who guided Barcelona to a sensational 6-1 return during the 2016/17 campaign.
When asked about that historic game, Enrique said, “Unfortunately that comeback was of no use. Juventus then eliminated us, so it was not the most special game of my career. PSG had won 4-0 in Barcelona.”
“People remember me for ‘the comeback’, but we were between life and death 15 days before. Then the picture changed. I remember 4-0 and 6-1.
“It’s part of history, I’m very proud of it. I won’t change anything in my career. I probably could have done much better, but I gave my best,” he added.
Talking about PSG’s chances in this tie, Enrique said, “It will be difficult. We have never won the Champions League. That will be our goal and I don’t know if there will be a club with more ambitions than us.”
“Whether we are favourites or not, it doesn’t matter to me,” he added. “I conveyed my confidence to the team, I think we will be better, with the experience of the players in this competition. We want to continue with our idea so that our fans are proud of us.”
The Spaniard went on to talk about Xavi, adding, “I don’t know Xavi’s work as a coach and he does know mine, but I would have liked him, Guardiola or Arteta to have trained me. Someone like Xavi has the level, he has won the Champions League.”
Luis Enrique also spoke at length about his return to Barcelona, notably reminiscing his time in the city.
“I’m returning to Barcelona, which is the city where I spent most of my career and I feel very good there, it’s very good news. We knew that the competition was going to give us a great opportunity,” he said.
“They are a very difficult and high-level team. The draw has two parts. We will have to show that we deserve to go further on the field,” he added.
Enrique concluded by talking about PSG’s current form, with the French giants coming on the back of three back-to-back draws in the league.
“It is true that we have had three draws in a row in the league, but I am not worried, we have had some bad games. We want to be champions as soon as possible and fight for all the titles,” he said.
It must be noted that Luis Enrique is one of the candidates linked with a move to Barcelona this summer. But everything suggests he will continue in the French capital, regardless of the outcome of this exhilarating Champions League tie next month.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
