PSG Boss Luis Enrique Expresses Emotion Following Significant Victory: ‘My Thoughts Are with My Daughter’

Paris Saint-Germain’s manager Luis Enrique (55) paid heartfelt homage to the club’s supporters, whom he hailed as the “12th man.” Their unwavering support propelled the French side to a long-awaited Champions League title. He also delivered an emotional tribute to his late daughter, Xana.

Desire Doue scored two goals, helping PSG secure their inaugural European Cup victory with a resounding 5-0 win against Inter Milan on Saturday.

After the final whistle, a visibly emotional Enrique donned a t-shirt paying tribute to Xana, who lost her battle with cancer at the tender age of nine in 2019, and expressed gratitude for the supporters who revealed massive banners featuring images of his daughter.

The t-shirt featured an illustration of Xana planting a PSG flag into the ground.

“I’m incredibly happy,” Enrique stated. “It was deeply emotional at the end with the fans’ banner for my family. Yet, my thoughts always return to my daughter.”

PSG completely dominated Inter from the start, earning praise from Enrique for their high-intensity performance. He specifically highlighted Ousmane Dembele for his relentless effort throughout the match.

Enrique mentioned that he maintained composure despite the emotional weight of the occasion, confident that his youthful squad had properly prepared to manage the pressure of such a significant final.

“A coach must keep their emotions in check – it’s essential to handle the pressure to support the players,” he remarked. “We approached the final with the calm needed to channel excitement appropriately. Now we can relish this moment; the trophy will return to Paris with us.”

PSG’s youthful squad accomplished what legends like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe could not, becoming just the second French team to clinch the trophy, following Olympique de Marseille’s victory in 1993.

This victory made Enrique only the second manager, after his fellow Barcelona alumnus Pep Guardiola, to lift the continental treble of League, Cup, and Champions League twice in a season, achieving the first with Barcelona and the second by overcoming Inter.

He also extended his gratitude to the Inter players for their sportsmanship in remaining on the pitch after the conclusion of the match.

“I want to congratulate Inter – all the players and staff,” Luis Enrique said. “They demonstrated great respect at the end; it’s a lesson for everyone – knowing how to lose is crucial.”