Luis Enrique pays emotional tribute to late daughter Xana after PSG’s historic Champions League triumph

Finally, after many tries and unlimited spending, Paris Saint-Germain have won their holy grail — the Champions League. 

I'm still trying to process what I witnessed last night. They absolutely demolished Inter Milan, and this was the highest margin of victory in a major European football final. The final scoreline was 5-0. Inter just couldn't cope with PSG's pressing, their forwards' constant rotation, their midfield's intensity, technical ability, and what not. Nerazzuri got absolutely outclassed in every department of the game. 

I expected a lot more from Inzaghi's Inter Milan, who were chasing a treble earlier this season but ended up leaving empty-handed and humiliated in the end. Their aging squad just couldn't cope with Luis Enrique's vibrant side's energy.

However, I am so happy for Lucho [Enrique]. That man is a fighter. So much has happened in his life, and my heart goes out to him. In 2019, he lost his beloved daughter at the age of just 9. Cancer took her away from this world. Imagine going through that pain. I can't even fathom it. Yet, he found positivity from somewhere.

When Enrique last won a Champions League title as a manager, his daughter was there with him celebrating that moment. Earlier this season, he said something that brought tears to my eyes. He had a photo of him and his late daughter, Xana, celebrating that victory where she was with a Barcelona flag on the pitch. He said he would love to replicate the same with PSG, but without her physical presence, only her spiritual presence. What a moving statement!

And the Parisians kept it in their minds. Their support was amazing, and they brought a brilliant tifo to Munich replicating the same moment with Xana in a PSG shirt. Enrique was emotional after seeing the support. He also mentioned he doesn't need to win a Champions League to remember his daughter, as he believes she's always there with him and his family.

He has given these fans something to cherish forever. They will never forget this team and this manager. It might be the beginning of a successful era in Europe.

Yes, they have spent a lot even to assemble this young squad, but many big managers came and went without succeeding even with the resources they had. Nobody could do this. Lucho is a special man and a special manager. He has not only delivered their first Champions League but also their first treble, the first French treble ever. What an achievement! That too in two full seasons!!

The biggest change he brought was the cultural transformation. There are no passengers. They all attack as a team and defend as a team. The winger Kvaratskhelia was running back and defending at minute 78, when they were already ahead by 4 goals. The Georgian winger, who was playing in that left wing role where Kylian Mbappe had previously played and scored many goals in that PSG shirt, had already scored a goal too at that time. Would Mbappe have tracked back like that?

Sensational Desire Doue scored a brace, young Mayulu found the net coming off from the bench, and Bradley Barcola could have easily added to the scoreline. Ousmane Dembele didn't score but was absolutely influential, as he has been ever since Enrique moved him to that false 9 role. He's even become a Ballon d'Or favourite now. What a masterstroke from Lucho. Dembele's transformation has been remarkable. When he first arrived from Barcelona, he was reluctant to work hard, but now he's pressing harder than ever and the press starts from him. 

PSG's off-the-ball work rate is phenomenal. Vitinha, Neves and Ruiz took control of the middle of the pitch with technical finesse and work rate. Inter had to completely change their midfield personnel in the second half. PSG's right-back Hakimi, who scored the opener, was pressing Calhanoglu when he was trying to build from the back on the right side. Isn't that incredible? Enrique has given everyone the freedom to express, but they have to work off the ball as much as they do on the ball. It's not robotic football. It's intelligent, fluid, and based on understanding the space and strengths of your teammates rather than rigid positioning.

Lucho is a winner, and he has proven it again with PSG. Enrique believes his late daughter is with him even now. This victory is for her, for him, and for every PSG fan who waited so long for this moment.

 What a night. What a story. What a man.

— From code to kick-off: Gulf News’ Mohammed Shamsheer spends his weekdays in DevOps and weekends watching football — a proud Chelsea supporter through and through.