Grief doesn’t take a break—not even on the biggest nights of your career.
For Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, every celebration carries a deeper meaning.
His daughter Xana passed away from bone cancer at just nine years old in August 2019.
And even as he leads one of the world’s biggest football clubs to glory, he’s never without her.
“Wherever I go, she goes too,” he says. Not physically, but in spirit. Always.
More Than Just a Team in Paris
At PSG, it’s not just about football anymore—it’s about family.
Under Enrique’s guidance, the club has found success not just in Ligue 1, where they’ve long been dominant, but finally on the European stage too.
And now they’re aiming for a bigger statement: winning the Club World Cup by beating Chelsea.
That would make them global champions.
Enrique has been instrumental in this journey.
The club’s Champions League victory in May—a stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan—was a moment of emotional resonance.
Supporters unfurled a massive tifo featuring Xana, proudly planting PSG’s flag at the centre circle.
The image referenced a cherished memory: when Xana did just that after her father’s Champions League win with Barcelona in 2015.
That night, she was just a joyful child playing with her dad on the pitch.
Tribute That Touched the World
That tifo moved millions to tears. And so did Enrique, who changed into a T-shirt bearing a tribute to Xana after the final whistle.
Fans watching around the world felt the weight of his love and loss.
It was a human moment—one that reminded us all that even in sport’s biggest victories, personal pain can still linger.
When Personal Loss Hits Home
While covering this tournament in the U.S., one reporter shared an emotional moment of his own.
At the 9/11 Museum in New York, he came across a small papier-mâché fireman’s hat—part of an exhibition where children expressed their grief through art.
It unexpectedly hit him hard.
He thought about being away from his son, Ezra.
And then, he thought of Enrique—who won’t be going home to tuck his child in after the tournament ends.
That reality is staggering. Enrique carries his grief visibly and publicly.
After the Champions League win, he spoke of Xana in an interview that went viral.
His words? Heartbreaking but full of love.
Remembering Xana, Always
“I was very lucky,” Enrique said. The interviewer paused.
“But your daughter passed away at nine?” Enrique gently replied, “Well, my daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years.
We have thousands of memories of her—photos, videos, incredible things.”
He shared how even his mother found it too painful to keep photos of Xana until he gently insisted. “Mum, you have to put up pictures of Xana.
She’s alive—not in the physical sense, but spiritually. Because we still talk about her every day.
We laugh. We remember. And I think Xana still sees us.”
The Chelsea What-If
Funny enough, Enrique could’ve ended up at Chelsea.
Back in April 2023, after the club parted ways with Graham Potter, he flew to London and interviewed for the role.
He’d even been taking English lessons, prepping for a shot at Premier League management.
But Chelsea had a long list of candidates, including names like Julian Nagelsmann, Ruben Amorim, and Roberto De Zerbi. Eventually, they chose Mauricio Pochettino—and later, Enzo Maresca.
PSG swooped in for Enrique instead. The parallels between the clubs are clear.
Both are packed with young talent and are building for the future.
But right now, PSG have pulled ahead—winning the Champions League while Chelsea lifted the Conference League and secured a top-four finish in the Premier League.
All Eyes on MetLife Stadium
Now the two clubs will clash again—this time in the Club World Cup final, held at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It’ll be Chelsea’s 64th match of the season. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected in attendance.
And despite their strong season, Chelsea enter the final as underdogs—especially after PSG thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final.
But don’t expect Chelsea to lie down. Defender Levi Colwill made that clear.
“Real Madrid don’t press like we do.
They don’t play like us. PSG won’t get the same game out of us,” he said. “We’ve got our own plan and identity.
We’re sticking to it. That’s when we play our best football.”
If Enrique Wins, He Won’t Be Alone
Whatever the final score, one thing is certain—if Enrique lifts the Club World Cup trophy, it won’t feel heavy in his hands.
Because Xana, his daughter, will be lifting it with him.