Luis Enrique Reaffirms His Ties to Barcelona Before PSG Clash

Luis Enrique has maintained a strong personal connection to Catalonia despite his professional responsibilities as Paris Saint-Germain's head coach. Ahead of PSG's Champions League meeting with FC Barcelona on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the former Barcelona player and manager discussed his relationship with the region, his assessment of the Catalan club, and his plans to defend against Lamine Yamal.

According to Lecturas, the 56-year-old coach considers himself closely connected to Barcelona through his playing career, his three years managing the first team, and his family life in Catalonia. He also emphasized that his current professional responsibility is to PSG, despite his longstanding affection for his former club.

Luis Enrique represented Barcelona as a player and managed the team from 2014 to 2017. Before joining the Catalan side, he began his professional career with Sporting de Gijón in 1989 and subsequently spent five seasons at Real Madrid, according to Lecturas.

Addressing his relationship with Barcelona and Catalonia at a league press conference, Luis Enrique explained that his personal history does not change his responsibilities as PSG manager.

"I am a Barcelona member, I was a Barcelona player and coach for six years. I have an incredible relationship with Catalonia, and my wife and children are Catalan. I am deeply connected to Barcelona, but I am PSG's coach," Luis Enrique said.

The coach acknowledged that facing Barcelona had initially been emotionally difficult. He now approaches the fixture as an opportunity to compete against a team he considers similar to his own in playing style and technical quality.

"At first, it was difficult for me to play against Barcelona, but I am starting to get used to it and try to make the most of facing a unique opponent that plays like we do and has players of great quality, a team that does not kick opponents, that has very clear values, the team most similar to the current PSG," he said.

Beyond football, Luis Enrique's connection to Catalonia is rooted in his family life. He has been with his wife, Elena Cullell, since 1996, and their children were born in Catalonia. The family has lived in Gavà, a town in the Baix Llobregat area, since 2012, according to Lecturas.

Although born in Asturias, Luis Enrique has previously described himself as connected to several identities. His comments about Catalans have attracted attention during past political controversies surrounding Catalan independence.

In a conversation with cyclist Ibon Zugasti during the Cape Epic, he praised the people of Catalonia and their work ethic.

"Catalans are amazing. They are far ahead of Spain in general. It is not well received to say that now. They are polite, very respectful, and hardworking," Luis Enrique said.

After facing criticism over perceived separatist sympathies, he clarified his position by emphasizing his pride in his birthplace and his connection to Spain and Catalonia.

"I am not going to talk about politics. I am proud to be Asturian, from Gijón, to live in Catalonia, and to be Spanish. The rest does not bother me; I do not care.

I know exactly who I am. I consider myself from Gijón, Asturian, Spanish, and also Catalan," he said.

During his assessment of Barcelona, Luis Enrique also discussed Lamine Yamal, whose performances have prompted comparisons with Lionel Messi. He praised the young forward's development and said the player should focus on establishing his own identity rather than measuring himself against the Argentine star.

"He is doing very well. I always hear him say that he wants to be Lamine Yamal. He is improving in every aspect of the game, and if you compare any player with the greatest of all time, Leo Messi, nobody will measure up.

Perhaps we can talk about it in the future, but I think Lamine is very intelligent. He wants to be the best version of Lamine and not compare himself with anyone," Luis Enrique said.

The PSG coach also outlined his preferred defensive approach against the Barcelona winger, identifying possession as the most effective way to limit his opportunities. He acknowledged, however, that keeping the ball throughout the match would be difficult.

"The best way to defend against Lamine Yamal is to have the ball. If you have the ball all the time, Lamine does not have it, and everything is calm. That is our ideal.

But it will not happen that way, because we all know it is difficult, and against Lamine, we have to concentrate on what we can do. To defend against an opponent with such quality, you have to stay focused," he said.

Lecturas also highlighted the lasting impact of the death of Luis Enrique's daughter, Xana, who died at age nine from bone cancer. The coach has previously spoken publicly about how his family remembers her and continues to include her in their lives.

In the documentary "No tenéis ni **** idea," Luis Enrique described how he encouraged his mother to display photographs of Xana after noticing that none were visible in her home.

"How do I want her to think we lived through this? We talk about her every day, laugh, and remember. Because Xana still watches over us," he said.

He also recalled asking his mother why she had removed the photographs and explaining his own understanding of grief and remembrance.

"My mother could not have photographs of Xana. Until I got home and asked her, 'Why are there no pictures of Xana, Mom?' 'I cannot, I cannot,' she said. 'Mom, you have to put up pictures of Xana. Xana is alive,' I replied. Physically, she is not here, but spiritually, she is," Luis Enrique said.