PSG’s Luis Enrique ‘delighted’ to reunite with Barcelona cohort | OneFootball

Sunday night will be a trip down memory lane for Luis Enrique as he encounters a host of players that he managed during his days as Barcelona manager.

Luis Enrique managed Barcelona between 2014-2017, winning the UEFA Champions League. Having just won the prestigious title for the second time, now as manager of Paris Saint-Germain, he prepares to reunite with some of his former players.

PSG will face Inter Miami in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday evening and for Luis Enrique, it will entail meeting some familiar faces. In the opposite dugout, there is one of his former players in the form of Javier Mascherano, whilst on the pitch, Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, Sergi Busquets, and Luis Suarez are all expected to start for the MLS side, as per L’Équipe.

Luis Enrique says Mascherano one of Barcelona’s ‘best midfielders’

Speaking ahead of the match, Luis Enrique evoked the reunion. “Emotionally, it will be a very special match for me. I am delighted to see these players again, who are more than players and who are friends. It will be special before and after the match, but we are professionals – it is important to stay focused and prepare for the match well. But emotionally, of course, it will be different,” said the PSG manager, who is hoping to progress to the quarter-finals of the tournament currently taking place in the USA.

On Mascherano, he added, “I know him perfectly, and I knew that he would become a manager. He is a person with whom I shared a lot as a family. I am happy that he is succeeding as a manager, and he has time to become a great manager. I wish him the best. It will be special for me […] he was one of the best midfielders that we had at Barça.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle