Luis Enrique Braces for 'Emotional' Reunion with Messi In Club World Cup Last 16
PSG coach Luis Enrique anticipates an emotional Club World Cup match against Inter Miami, facing Lionel Messi, whom he coached at Barcelona.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique acknowledged that Sunday's Club World Cup clash with Inter Miami will be an emotional occasion—for both him and the club—as he prepares to face Lionel Messi, a player he once coached at Barcelona.
Messi joined PSG in 2021 after leaving Barça, where he played under Enrique during one of the club's most successful eras. Though the Argentine won two Ligue 1 titles in Paris, he left in 2023 without delivering the coveted Champions League trophy. That same summer, Enrique took charge of PSG and led them to their first-ever European title, defeating Inter Milan in a commanding final on May 31.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Enrique reflected on the upcoming reunion.
'I think the game in an emotional sense is special for me, without a doubt, for the club too and the players who have been here with Messi," he said.
The PSG boss also highlighted the emotional significance of facing several other familiar faces: Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano—all of whom Enrique managed during Barcelona's historic treble-winning 2014–15 season.
'It's beautiful to see these players, who are more than just players for me. It will be special—before and after the game," he said ahead of the match at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
While PSG enter the match as favorites, Enrique stressed that Messi's presence—and the strength of the Inter Miami squad—will serve as motivation rather than intimidation.
'If we can't get the ball off them it won't look good for us, because Busquets is still the same. Lionel Messi with the ball is unique," Enrique said.
'Luis Suárez—you saw the last goal he scored… and on top of that, they have a coach like Mascherano.
'For us, it's very motivating. We won the Champions League recently, but we still have the hunger to show that we can improve and compete. There's no better stage than this marvellous stadium, facing a team that includes a man called Leo Messi—a revered figure not just for Barcelona fans, but for everyone who enjoys the game."
No 'Slip-Ups'
Enrique confirmed that PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé had returned to training this week, but warned he would not take any risks with the French international in Sunday's last-16 fixture.
Enrique was also clear about the approach needed to limit Messi's impact, acknowledging the futility of relying on a single defender.
'Messi can dribble past any player," he said. 'If we want to stop Leo Messi, we don't rely on just one player, because then we are dead. We need the collective."
(with AFP inputs)
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Siddarth Sriram
First Published:
June 29, 2025, 09:51 IST
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