Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique says being a Barcelona fan offers further motivation for him to assist knock Real Madrid out of the Club World Cup tonight.
PSG go into the final 4 tie in New York as slight favourites given their spectacular finish to the season that noticed them clinch their first Champions League crown by hammering Inter Milan 5-0 within the ultimate.
Jour de demi-finale. ⚔️
⌚️ – 21h 🇫🇷 / 3 pm 🇺🇸 #FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/OUNQGs4VAi
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) July 9, 2025
Luis Enrique has carved out a massively profitable teaching profession after starring as a participant for Sporting Gijon, Barca and Madrid.
He made the daring determination to swap the Santiago Bernabeu for Camp Nou in 1996 and flourished in Catalonia, and says there isn’t a doubt the place his coronary heart lies.
He stated: “Playing towards Real Madrid is particular, surely. We wish to play these kinds of video games as a result of it implies that you probably did the job effectively. We are able to play a semi-final. It is an important, motivating match. We are able to play and get to a different ultimate.
“For me, it’s a pleasure to play towards Real Madrid, it all the time has been, as a result of we play towards probably the most adored crew on this planet, it’s big.
“And I’m a ‘Culé’, a Barça socio, so it’s all the time motivating to play towards Real Madrid.”
Luis Enrique backs Alonso to succeed at Madrid
The 55-year-old, who received two La Ligas as a participant at Barca and two extra as coach, believes his Madrid counterpart Xabi Alonso will make Los Blancos a formidable aspect over the course of his tenure.
He added: “It’s very tough to analyse this Real Madrid as a result of they’re beginning a brand new interval. We know that they’re very robust individually, however that is the start of Xabi Alonso as Real coach.
“It’s all the time tough to teach an excellent crew however I feel Xabi Alonso has all the things it takes to stay as much as this membership.”
Luis Enrique decided to finish season on a excessive
The Club World Cup has attracted criticism with the blistering warmth affecting matches on the finish of a protracted season for gamers however, having come this far, Luis Enrique is set to complete the job.
“Since our arrival on the membership, now we have all made historical past,” he stated. “Now, now we have the chance to win this event which solely takes place each 4 years. I sincerely suppose it would turn out to be a reference, it’s a good solution to play towards groups from totally different elements of the world.
“So sure we’re on the finish of the season however when you’re one recreation away from the ultimate, the motivation goes a lot additional.”
