'He's the best'

Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Messi and Mascherano all featured for Enrique's Barca, winning the treble under him in 2015.

"I've said it infinite times: For me, he's the best — I think not just as a coach, but also how he manages the group," said Alba, who also worked with Enrique on the Spanish national team.

"He's a phenomenon. I'm excited to see him, as well as his entire staff. I'll give him a hug, but when the ref blows the opening whistle, I'll try to beat him, which is what all of us here are trying to do," added the left-back.

Suarez, who scored in the 2-2 draw with Palmeiras on Monday, was also full of praise for the Spanish coach.

"For me, along with Maestro (Oscar) Tabarez of the (Uruguay) national team, he was the most important coach of my career, for what they taught me, for what I learned in the day-to-day with him," he said.

"He's a coach who influenced me greatly. I already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me. He taught me how to move within a space, where I had to play a role I wasn't used to, not touching the ball a lot ... Not to mention on a personal level, a relationship of great respect and admiration for what he generated for us as players."

Mascherano, in his first club coaching job, said he remains a personal friend of the PSG coach and his family.

"That is the beautiful thing about football sometimes. You face these kinds of things and, well, in my opinion, I do not deserve this as a coach just yet. But, yes, it will be a very beautiful opportunity. I always wish him all the best; that won't be the case on Sunday. I hope luck will be on our side. But, yes, I have a very good relationship with him. I appreciate him a lot," he said.

AFP