Paris Saint-Germain’s manager Luis Enrique expressed that facing former player Lionel Messi will be an “emotional” reunion for both him and the French club ahead of Sunday’s Club World Cup showdown against Inter Miami.
The Argentine legend, Messi, made the switch to PSG in 2021 from Barcelona, where Luis Enrique had previously managed him and several other current players of Inter Miami.
Messi departed the French club in 2023, coinciding with Enrique’s arrival, having secured two Ligue 1 titles but ultimately falling short of delivering the Champions League victory the club desperately desired.
This season, however, Luis Enrique led PSG to European glory, clinching the Champions League trophy for the first time by defeating Inter Milan on May 31.
“In an emotional sense, this match is undoubtedly special for me, for the club, and for the players who have shared their time with Messi,” Luis Enrique remarked during a press conference on Saturday.
The coach also expressed his anticipation for facing Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano – all of whom he coached at Barcelona during their treble-winning season in 2015.
“It’s wonderful to see these players, who mean so much more to me than just being players; this will be a special moment both before and after the match,” he added ahead of the encounter in Atlanta.
Luis Enrique indicated that Messi’s presence would serve as a source of motivation for his PSG squad, who are considered among the top contenders for the title.
“If we can’t win the ball back, it’s going to be tough for us because Busquets is still at his peak, and Lionel Messi is unmatched with the ball at his feet,” he noted.
“We witnessed Luis Suarez’s latest goal… and they have a tactician like Mascherano at the helm…
It’s definitely motivating for us. We’ve recently won the Champions League, but there’s still a thirst to demonstrate that we can improve and that we want to compete.
“There’s no better setting for competition than this incredible stadium, against a team led by someone as revered as Leo Messi, who is admired not just by Barcelona supporters but by all who appreciate his ability as a footballer.”
No ‘slips’
Luis Enrique confirmed that star forward Ousmane Dembele had trained this week but stated that he would “take no chances” with the French winger in the last-16 match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After Botafogo shocked PSG in the group stage and Inter Miami pulled off a surprising 2-1 victory over Porto, Enrique urged his players to stay focused.
“In these types of competitions, as I know all too well from my time coaching the Spanish national team, you cannot afford a slip-up,” warned Luis Enrique.
“You can’t let your guard down, become overly confident, or make any mistakes because 90 minutes can pass in the blink of an eye, and it’s crucial that we establish our game right from the start — that is our goal.”
The coach highlighted that a collective effort would be necessary to contain Messi rather than placing the burden on a single player.
“Messi can outmanoeuvre any opponent,” Enrique acknowledged.
“If we want to limit Leo Messi’s impact, relying on just one player won’t suffice; we will need a team effort.”
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