PSG’s Luis Enrique Is Up for Pep Guardiola Challenge & Aims to Dethrone Manchester City in the Champions League Final

Pep Guardiola has won a sextuple and a treble in his career. But he has never won two UEFA Champions League titles in a row. This time, he has a chance for that coveted UCL double with Manchester City. Anyhow, City has the tumultuous task of overcoming Real Madrid in the QFs before that. Nonetheless, way before the title game is decided, PSG’s Head Coach, Luis Enrique is fancying a clash against his Barcelona pal Guardiola in the 2024 UCL final. Per this year’s UCL knockout schedule, City and PSG won’t face each other, unless both make it to the final.

If PSG beats Barcelona in the QFs, they will face the winner of the Borussia Dortmund-Atletico Madrid tie in the next round. The PSG boss was recently asked which team he wants to play in the semis. “I would like a Spanish team like Atlético de Madrid. We already faced Dortmund at the start of the season,” said Luis Enrique. Thereafter, Enrique spoke of wanting to face two of his Spanish compatriots, including Pep Guardiola. “And in the final, Pep (Manchester City) or Mikel Arteta (Arsenal),” the PSG coach continued, referring to his UCL final preferences.

Before reaching the final, Manchester City should first beat a super-strong Real Madrid side. Then, they will need to beat the winner of the Arsenal-Bayern Munich tie in the SF. Interestingly, if things go as Luis Enrique wishes, it won’t be the first time he will be crossing paths with Guardiola. After their stint as teammates from 1996 to 2001, the two have locked horns on Europe’s biggest stage as managers as well.

Pep Guardiola vs Luis Enrique in the UCL: What do the stats say?

The Barcelona icons have faced each other 4 times in the UCL. The outcome of those meetings is perfectly balanced, with two wins for either manager. Guardiola’s City beat Enrique’s Barcelona in the 2016-17 season at home. That was after the Catalan club thrashed the Cityzens 4-0 in the reverse group tie. While the group games look balanced, the current PSG boss has had the better of the current Man City coach in the knockouts.

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During the 2014-15 UCL, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona faced Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in the SFs. Enrique’s Blaugrana men ruthlessly outclassed Munich, beating them 3-0 to win the 1st leg. Though Guardiola’s Munich won the 2nd leg 3-2, there was a substantial aggregate difference that ended the German side’s UCL dream. Barcelona would then go on to defeat Juventus in the final, winning the club’s 2nd treble of the 21st century that year.

Do you see a Pep-Enrique showdown again? Or do you predict a different fate for PSG and Man City? Tell us in the comments.

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