Their reunion was expected. Would they be happy to see each other? Will their rivalry take over? This Wednesday evening, Luis Enrique and Xavi, the coaches of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, who face each other in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League, responded in the most beautiful way: with a frank hug.
The two men, who met in the corridors of the Parc des Princes, took the time to exchange a few words, with many smiles on display.
On Tuesday, however, the rivalry seemed to take over. At a press conference, the Parisian technician sent a little dig to his counterpart. Asked who best represented the footballing spirit of Barcelona, Luis Enrique replied: “Probably me. This is not me saying it. You can see the data: ball possession, goals, pressure, titles, trophies. I represent Barça best, obviously others think differently. But without a doubt, I am the one who best represents Barça. »
Xavi paid tribute to his former teammate and coach at the Blaugrana. “My relationship with him was good: he was the coach, I was the captain, I have excellent memories of that time,” replied the former midfielder. We had also achieved the hat-trick. »Luis Enrique's little attack obviously didn't upset him too much. The tension of the match could, however, make the relationship more stormy.