"Just 10 seconds of carelessness in football is enough to pay the price," Enrique said on 28/6 during the pre-match press conference at Mercedes-Benz. "They still maintain their class and quality, as evidenced by their unbeaten run. I watched all three of Inter Miami's group stage matches and some previous games, and they possess quality players. If we can't apply pressure, winning the ball will be very difficult."
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Coach Luis Enrique (left) and Lionel Messi during their time together at Barca. Photo: AFP |
Coach Luis Enrique (left) and Lionel Messi during their time together at Barca. Photo: AFP
While managing Barca, Enrique won 9 titles, including the 2014-2015 treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League. There, the Spanish coach achieved success with Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba – stars now playing for Inter Miami. Therefore, he understands the class and explosive potential of this quartet.
"We all know Messi's passes to Alba are famous in the football world, and they continue to appear in every match," Enrique stated. "Busquets still maintains his form, Messi is unique with the ball, Suarez's handling is still excellent, and Alba remains a dangerous attacking threat."
The 55-year-old coach warned that PSG must deliver a perfect performance and maintain the necessary intensity, or they will suffer a heavy defeat against Inter Miami. "There's no better place to play than this wonderful stadium, against a club that still has Messi, a role model for everyone. We witnessed Messi for many years at Barca and we still get to enjoy him," Enrique continued to praise his former player. "10, 15 years, I don't know how long Messi's peak will last. For me, he's the benchmark for the best football player in history."
Enrique feels honored and cherishes the time he coached Barca. "I had the opportunity to win everything at Barca," he shared. "I enjoyed every training session, I estimate about 200 sessions per season. I saw Messi do incredible things in training. The ability to control match situations that only someone with those qualities can make look easy. It was a real joy, a thrilling experience, and beautiful memories."
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Javier Mascherano (right) and Sergio Busquets during their time at Barca. Photo: Marca |
Javier Mascherano (right) and Sergio Busquets during their time at Barca. Photo: Marca
Enrique also coached Javier Mascherano – Inter Miami's current coach – during his successful period at Barca. In a previous press conference, Mascherano admitted to being inspired by his former teacher and praised Enrique as one of the greatest coaches. Regarding this statement, Enrique said he knew Mascherano would become an excellent coach from his playing days.
"There are two players I had no doubt would become good coaches: Mascherano and Busquets," Enrique stated. "Both were like coaches on the field, with their ability to control midfield and their leadership qualities."
Hong Duy (According to ESPN)
