Luis Enrique pays tribute to late daughter Xana after PSG win UCL final: ‘She will be there spiritually’

When Paris Saint-Germain started celebrating the very first UEFA Champions League final of the club in the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday, one person was top of thought-Xana, the daughter of manager Luis Enrique.

Xana died in 2019 at the age of nine after a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, but Enrique and his family have kept her memory alive over the years. He often reminded Xana during big moments in his career and the final of the Champions League on Saturday was no exception because several tribute to his daughter was present during PSG’s Post-Match celebrations.

Enrique, who wore an ordinary black T-shirt during the 90 minutes, turned into a T-shirt with a drawing designed on behalf of the Xana Foundation and collected the medal from his winner as he was wearing the shirt. Enrique and his wife Elena Cullell started the foundation after the death of their daughter and the T-shirt design was a reference to a photo of Xana on the Champions League final 10 years ago, when Barcelona van Enrique won the competition in the Berlin Olympiastadion.

“I have incredible memories because my daughter loved parties, and I am sure she is still throwing them where she is,” Enrique remembered earlier this season, per brand. “I remember an incredible photo that I have with her on the Champions League final, after winning the Champions League, planting an FC Barcelona flag on the field. I hope to be able to do the same with PSG. My daughter will not be there, she will not be physical, but she will be a lot of life with spiritual, and she will be spiritual, and she will be spiritual with spiritual, and she will be spiritual, and that is spiritual with spiritual, and she will be spiritual with spiritual, and she will be spiritual with spiritual, and that is spiritual, and that is spiritual with spiritual, and that is spiritual with spiritual, and spiritual, and that is spiritual with spiritual, and spiritual. live with my family. “

It was not the only tribute to Xana in the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Some time after the last whistle, after PSG’s 5-0 victory blew over Inter, the fans of the club revealed a banner who was a nod to that photo of Xana.

These are the newest tribute to Xana, who enrique described her as ‘the star that our family leads’, after her death. She has been a motivating factor in his career since, in which Enrique found weaving to weave Xana’s life in his professional milestones, regardless of the opportunity.

This includes a moment in 2022, when Spain’s crucial World Cup group phase match against Germany took place on the 13th anniversary of Xana. He started the day with an Instagram post that remembers his daughterShare: “Today is a special day. Not only because we play Germany, but also because my daughter Xana would be 13 years old. My dearest, wherever you are, we love you. We miss you.”

He also took the time after the 1-1 draw of Spain with Germany to talk about Xana.

“It was a special day for me and my family,” he said. “Of course we no longer have our daughter physically with us, but she is still present every day. We remember her a lot, we laugh and think about how she would act in every situation we experience. This is how life works. It’s not just about beautiful things and finding happiness, it’s about knowing how to manage these moments.”

It stems from the intention of his family to keep her memory alive in more than one way. This includes insuring memories of her in the front and in the middle of their daily lives, something that he sketched in the documentary “Luis Enrique in 2024: you have no idea”, as he remembered an interaction with his mother after the death of Xana.

“My mother couldn’t keep photos of Xana until I got home and asked:” Why are there no pictures of Xana, Mom? “” He said. “I can’t do it, I can’t.” Mom, you have to say [up photos of] Xana. Xana lives. ‘She’s not in the physical [sense] But she’s in the spiritual [sense] Because we talk about her every day, we laugh and remember because I think Xana still sees us. “

The family also remembers their daughter although the Xana FoundationThat provides help to the families of children affected by serious illness. Enrique acknowledged that he and his wife, Elena Cullell, had the privilege of leaving their work to concentrate on Xana; He took leave from Spain in March 2019 before he resigned in June, two months before the death of Xana. Enrique and his wife realized that not every family can easily do the same, so the foundation does what it is possible to help them.

The memories of the family of Xana are dear, whom he said he was lucky to be lucky.

“Can I consider myself happy or unhappy? I consider myself happy, very happy,” he said in the documentary. “My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories of her, videos, incredible things.”