UEFA Champions League: PSG boss Luis Enrique ready to do battle with 'one of top managers in the world' Unai Emery
ByOli Gent
Updated 09/04/2025 at 11:06 GMT+1
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has called Aston Villa manager Unai Emery "one of the top managers on the whole planet" ahead of the two sides' encounter in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The Ligue 1 champions, who retained their title with six games to spare over the weekend, will host the first leg, which you can watch exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
‘Very nice’ for Enrique to reflect on Barca’s incredible comeback against PSG in 2017
Video credit: TNT Sports
Luis Enrique has labelled Unai Emery as "one of the top managers" in the world as he prepares to face off against his compatriot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain play Emery’s Aston Villa on Wednesday night, and you can watch the action from the Parc des Princes exclusively live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
It will not be the first time Enrique and Emery have locked horns in Europe’s premier competition, as both men were in opposing technical areas at the Camp Nou for ‘La Remontada’, Barcelona’s sensational comeback in the 2017 last-16 second leg.
The hosts recovered from a four-goal deficit to defeat PSG 6-1 on the night, and 6-5 on aggregate following Sergi Roberto’s dramatic injury-time winner.
Enrique was in charge of the Catalan side that day, while Emery had the reins of the French champions, who had seemed in control of the tie after an impressive 4-0 rout at the Parc des Princes in the first leg, thanks to a starring show from Angel Di Maria, who notched two goals, supplemented by strikes from Julian Draxler and Edinson Cavani.
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of his much-anticipated reunion with Emery, Enrique recalls that night in 2017 with great fondness.
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La Remontada: Relive Barca's famous UCL comeback over PSG in 2017
Video credit: TNT Sports
"[The infamous comeback] was a long time ago, but it’s always nice to watch it again," he said.
"Unai Emery and I have shared many things in the football [world], and it would be great to [have] that again.
"Football is a different sport [to any other]. It’s one where you can see anything. Any solution, any problem, you have to be ready. It’s very nice to remember that. ‘La Remontada’ is part of the history of the competition. You have to manage the defeat [from PSG’s perspective], and when you win."
The Spaniard lauded his opposite number, placing him in the world’s top bracket of head coaches.
"[Emery] is absolutely one of the top managers on the whole planet," Enrique said.
"He has won a lot of trophies and has a lot of experience. You can see how he’s managed Aston Villa last year and this, and it’s two big teams who want to be bigger and become the best teams, with two managers in the same way. It’s going to be a [good] match."
After a rocky start Enrique has struck the winning formula, PSG wrapped up the Ligue 1 title with six games to spare thanks to a slender 1-0 win over Angers last weekend, with Desire Doue netting the winner as Les Parisiens retained their crown.
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Tielemans explains how arrival of Rashford, Asensio and Malen has benefitted Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
However, with their dominance in France almost insurmountable, attentions turn to the Champions League as the primary target, although Enrique played down the competition’s importance.
"Winning is the most important thing," he said.
"You need to win trophies when you’re at a club as big as PSG. We are very happy, but you’re not allowed to have full focus on the Champions League, because there are only two matches guaranteed. You need to pass into the next phase, and we’ll use the league and [momentum from] other matches to get into the next phase."
Stream the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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