Xavi Hernandez exclusive: Paris Saint-Germain tie in UEFA Champions League will be 'fantastic game' but 'very difficult'

Barcelona head coach Xavi has branded former mentor and Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as "one of the best coaches in the world" ahead of their meeting in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, which he says will be a "fantastic game".

The pair will be reunited when their teams come face-to-face in the first leg of their last-eight tie on Wednesday, April 10, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Xavi was Barca captain when Enrique was in charge at Camp Nou between 2014 and 2017.

And they forged a formidable partnership, with that three-year period seeing the club win two La Liga titles, the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League and three Copa del Rey crowns.

Xavi says he learned a lot about management when working under Enrique.

"He's one of the best coaches that I have in my career," he exclusively told TNT Sports. "He's a great personality, a great coach. He pushes the players a lot.

"He won everything in Barcelona. We won together, me as a captain. Really good memories, so I respect him a lot.

"I have a good relationship with him, not only with him, but with all his staff. So I'm very happy to meet him. It's a pity because it's not a final! It's a quarter-final, and I'm really happy to be there.

"They have good players, a good squad. I think Luis Enrique improves a lot this team. They improve a lot with Luis Enrique as a coach. It will be very difficult for us."

Xavi took charge at Camp Nou in late 2021, and guided the club to another La Liga title last season.

The 2023/24 campaign has been a disappointing one for Barcelona though, as they currently sit eight points behind leaders Real Madrid.

As such, the manager will stand down at the end of the season, and he is desperate to leave having lifted some more silverware.

"Yes, it's one of the biggest games of the season for our club," he continued. "For Barcelona, it's the first time after four years that we are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"We are really happy, really proud and motivated, all the players are really motivated to play against Paris Saint-Germain, in my opinion of the best teams in Europe, and also Luis Enrique, one of the best coaches in the world.

"It's a challenge. It's a challenge for me, for our club, for the players. Of course, it will be tough, but this is the Champions League. We are very happy to be here.

"Both teams love to play offensively. Both teams want to create chances, to show good personality inside the pitch. For the fans, it will be a fantastic game.

"We are thinking quarter-final. We are here with a lot of humility. We are not in the best moment economically in the club. It will be not easy to compete against this kind of club, but with being humble, I think is the best way to compete tomorrow."

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