Luis Enrique’s Journey to Champions League Final With PSG After Death of Daughter
- Luis Enrique and Paris Saint-Germain will have a chance to win the Champions League later this month
- The Ligue 1 champions will battle Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena after beating Arsenal in the semi-final
- It's been more than five years since Enrique lost his nine-year-old daughter, and is now on the brink of a major achievement
Luis Enrique will lead Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final against Inter Milan more than five years after losing his nine-year-old daughter, Xana.
Source: Getty Images
How Luis Enrique recovered after death of daughter
Enrique and PSG have a chance to win the Champions League on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, after eliminating Arsenal to secure their spot.
Amid the celebrations and joy within the PSG camp, Enrique is likely to reflect on his nine-year-old daughter, who passed away from bone cancer in 2019.
The Spaniard lost Xana on August 29, 2019, when he was the coach for the Spain national team.
You will be the star that guides our family," he said via BBC Sport. "We will miss you very much but we will remember you every day of our lives in the hope that in the future we will meet again."
He returned to his role a few months later after mourning his daughter. Football stars, including Lionel Messi, sent their messages of condolence.
The 55-year-old led Spain to the 2022 World Cup but fell short in the round of 16 against Morocco. He took charge of PSG in 2023 and is one game away from winning his second Champions League crown.
Enrique opens up about losing his daughter
Last year, the former Barcelona boss opened up about losing his daughter and the impact she had on his life.
"I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate," Enrique said via BeIN Sport. "Xana is alive in the spiritual realm because every day we talk about her, we laugh and remember."
"Because I think that Xana still sees us. What do I want Xana to think about how we lived this?"
The death of his daughter deeply hurt Enrique and his family, but he continues to leave a mark on football.
Source: Getty Images
Can Luis Enrique win Champions League with PSG?
He transformed PSG, shaping them into a dominant force in Europe. For years, the club had been a laughing stock in Europe, but after the departures of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, he rebuilt the team and made them competitive once again.
They are favourites to win the final against Serie A giants Inter Milan. Opta's supercomputer has given them an edge over the Italian side.
If Enrique wins, he will etch his name into PSG's history books. It will also mark a remarkable comeback after a challenging period in his life.
Luis Enrique calls out Mikel Arteta
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that Enrique rejected Mikel Arteta's claims that Arsenal were the better team in the semi-final.
He admitted that the Gunners were clever in the second leg but disagreed about them being better over the two legs.
The Premier League side were second best for the majority of the first leg, but did incredibly well for most of the return leg.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
