Luis Enrique pays emotional tribute to daughter Xana with heartwarming act after Champions League final triumph for PSG
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- Luis Enrique's daughter Xana died aged nine in 2019 after battling bone cancer
- He performed a touching gesture for her after winning the Champions League
- LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Is Ruben Amorim too honest?
Luis Enrique paid an emotional tribute to his daughter Xana, who died in 2019, after winning the Champions League final with PSG.
The Spaniard wore a tee-shirt with a sketch showing him and Xana planting a PSG flag - just as they did with a Barcelona-themed one a decade ago.
Xana died aged nine in August 2019 following a battle with bone cancer, leaving Enrique and his wife Elena Cullell heartbroken.
Enrique, who has now lifted a Treble with PSG after thrasing Inter Milan 5-0, has spoken heartwarmingly about Xana and the impact she made on their family's life.
His little girl was with him in 2015 when he won his first Treble with Barca, and a decade on, he still feels like she is present in his life.
Reflecting on Xana's heartbreaking death, Enrique explained in the documentary series 'You Have No F***ing idea': 'Can I consider myself lucky or unfortunate? I consider myself lucky, very lucky.
'"But your daughter died at nine years old". Well, my daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories from her, videos, incredible things.'
The clip of Enrique's tribute to his daughter in the documentary proceeded to show Xana doing a gymnastics routine in the garden as her family filmed and watched on proudly.
Enrique then continued: 'My mother couldn't keep photos of Xana until I arrived home and asked her "why aren't there any photos of Xana, mum?"
"I can't, I can't". "Mum, you have to put (photos of Xana) up". Xana is alive. She isn't in the physical plane, but she is in the spiritual plane. Because every day we talk about her, we laugh and remember.
'Because I think that Xana still sees us. What do I want Xana to think about how we lived this?'
The video concluded with Xana enjoying activities such as playing the piano with a beaming smile on her face.
Enrique's touching words highlighted how he still feels Xana is with him every day, and he is determined to make her proud of him.
Having stepped away from his post as Spain manager to spend more time with Xana, he returned three months after her passing and led them into the 2022 World Cup.
There, they reached the last 16 but were knocked out by a brilliant Morocco team.
Now creating history with PSG, he still feels like Xana is walking with him in some sense.
Earlier this season, he said he wanted to recreate the special moment from 2015.
'My daughter loved parties and I’m sure where she is, she’s still having parties,' Enrique said.
'And I remember an incredible photo I have of her in the Champions League final in Berlin, after winning the Champions League, putting the flag of FC Barcelona in the pitch.
'I have the wish to be able to do the same with Paris Saint-Germain.
'My daughter won’t be there, but she will be… she won’t be there physically, but she will be spiritually and that, for me, is very important.'
PSG and Enrique gave themselves plenty to be proud of on Saturday night as they battered Inter Milan 5-0 - the highest scoreline in Champions League final history.
What's more, this was the largest age disparity in Champions League final history. PSG's average age was 25 years and 96 days old, Inter's 30 years and 242 days.
Desire Doue played one of the most outstanding games anyone has witnessed in a final, scoring twice and assisting Achraf Hakimi.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu bookended the goals to ensure a historic night for PSG, who are the first French side to win the Champions League since Marseille in 1993.
