Luis Enrique and Xavi: The friction between Barcelona stars has been going on for 10 years Champions League

Luis Enrique was responsible for causing controversy. When asked in the press conference which of the two coaches facing each other today best represented Barcelona's style, the Paris Saint-Germain coach declared that he was the “heir” to the legacy.

– Without a doubt, I am. See property data, addresses, in high-pressure. See data. It's not an opinion, it's numbers and data. “It's non-negotiable,” he said.

Hours after Luis Enrique's statements, Xavi was asked about the Paris Saint-Germain coach's speech. The Barcelona coach avoided getting into controversy on this topic, but positioned himself as part of the legacy of the Catalan club's playing style.

– I saw. It's Luis Enrique, I think you know him. With all respect in the world. He has a team designed to win the Champions League and that is the goal. We're both after the same thing. “We can assume that Luis Enrique, Guardiola, Arteta and I have Barcelona's DNA.”

In his final period at Barcelona, ​​between 2014 and 2017, Luis Enrique was responsible for the club's last Champions League title (2025), and the team was led by Xavi himself. During that victorious season, problems began between them, according to the Spanish press.

In the 2014/15 season, Xavi's last at Barcelona, ​​Luis Enrique's idea was to get rid of the player to make room for Croatian Rakitic, who had just arrived at the club. The midfielder insisted on staying in the team and fighting for a position, which did not completely satisfy the coach at that time.

At that time, Barcelona had a strong attacking trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, and Luis Enrique chose to adopt an objective style of play, without much possession, so that the ball would reach the attack as quickly as possible. The change in the team's style would have been heavily criticized by Xavi, who was one of the most experienced players in the group.

Amid episodes of internal discord, Xavi played little that season, but was an important part of the team. As captain, he mediated some of the group's internal conflicts with the coach himself, who would end that year by winning the Triple Crown.