Next Wednesday, FC Barcelona will travel to Paris for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain. One of the key components of the tie is the chess match between managers Luis Enrique and Xavi Hernandez.
While PSG have the younger team between the two squads, the capital club does count on Enrique, the more experienced coach. The 53-year-old has won a UEFA Champions League as a coach, which is something Xavi hasn’t done on the sidelines, although he did win it as a player.
As a result, one former player believes that the Parisians having Enrique on the sidelines does give them an edge over the Catalan side in the matchup.
“I think the big difference between PSG and Barça is Luis Enrique,” former footballer Aday Benítez said. “I give PSG a favorite because of him.”
.@adaybenitez11: "I think the big difference between PSG and Barça is Luis Enrique. I give PSG a favorite because of him." pic.twitter.com/xogRixUFKw
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) April 4, 2024
Enrique aims to inject an element of surprise into his strategy. Recognizing Barcelona’s upcoming brief respite before the first leg, he seeks to unsettle his opponents, who are likely engaged in scouting activities as they gear up for the match.
Could that be what tilts the tie in his favor? It will be interesting to find out next week.
