UCL: PSG boss takes a dig at Xavi ahead of Barcelona quarter-final

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique took a dig at Barcelona’s head coach Xavi Hernandez, saying that he represented the Blaugrana's philosophy more than him.

Enrique, who coached Barcelona from 2015 to 2017, won the Champions League with the Catalan club in 2015 alongside two league titles before leaving the club. The Spaniard believes that he plays his PSG side following Barca’s philosophy more than Xavi does at his club.

“Without any doubt, I do," Enrique told at a press conference when asked whether it’s he or Xavi who better represents Blaugrana's philosophy, which is based on possession, pressing, positioning, and attacking.

"Look at the data: ball possession, goal-scoring chances created, the high press, trophies. Look at it. It's not an opinion. The numbers and figures are there. It's not debatable. Others may think differently, but there are no doubts."

Enrique played with Xavi as a player at Barca and then went to coach him in 2015. He stated that he doesn’t know Xavi as a coach but he knows the club and its players well.

"I don't know Xavi at all as a coach," Luis Enrique said. "I only know him as a player. I know the club very well, but not Xavi the coach.

"I know Barcelona really well and I know the players, but I don't know if that could be an advantage or not. It could be the opposite.

"The club means a lot to me emotionally because of the experiences I had there, but I am also a professional and I have to think about my job and my team.

"It will be special for me, but I am more than ready to give my all for PSG. I am looking forward to the tie and believe I'm capable of bringing trophies to this club."

Remember, PSG have never won the Champions League, the closest they ever came was in 2020 when they lost the final against Bayern Munich. On the other hand, Barcelona have won the elusive title five times.