Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique told the media that he has no preference for who the club draws in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. However, behind the scenes, the Spanish manager does have an ideal opponent he wants to see.
After defeating OGC Nice in the Coupe de France quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes, the 53-year-old was asked about the prospects of facing Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, or Real Madrid.
“In life, you can’t decide,” Enrique told beIN Sports. “There are four Spanish coaches, there are three Spanish clubs, there is a French coach, all the draws are good.”
Nonetheless, COPE’s Dani Gil reports that Enrique would like to face Barcelona in the quarterfinals. A potential matchup against the Catalan club would see the Spanish manager return to where he experienced a lot of success, winning the 2015 Champions League.
Luis Enrique would like to face Barça in the Champions League. 👀🇪🇸🔥 @danigilopez pic.twitter.com/vwzWBLmSuB
— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) March 14, 2024
A return would mean Enrique wants to eliminate Barcelona from the competition. Plus, Xavi Hernandez is likely a manager he knows well and could have the advantage since he coached the player, so from a tactical perspective, it makes sense.
Will the draw allow for Enrique to get his way? We’ll find out on Friday.
