Inter Miami Versus PSG, Barcelona's Decade of Nostalgia in Atlanta

ATLANTA, FRIDAY — About ten years ago, Barcelona had one of the best seasons in the club's history. A decade later, the key figures of Barca's success will gather in Atlanta, specifically for the Round of 16 match of the 2025 Club World Cup between Inter Miami and Paris Saint-Germain.

At that time, in the 2014-15 season, Barca led by Coach Luis Enrique successfully achieved a treble winner. The team contained many legendary players, such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Javier Mascherano. Mascherano. Who would have thought, they would meet at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Sunday (6/29/2025) at 23.00 WIB.

Enrique arrived as the coach of PSG. On the other hand, five of Enrique's former protégés are representing Inter. Messi and his teammates are still playing, except for Mascherano, who holds the position of coach. A sense of nostalgia is inevitable amidst the increasingly heated atmosphere of the tournament.

"I have a special relationship with him and his family," said Mascherano when asked about his closeness to Enrique. "It will definitely be a very special moment to face him. It is an honor for me to confront a great coach. One of the greatest in my career," he added.

Mascherano has been a chess piece on the field for Enrique for approximately three years. In the upcoming match, Mascherano will take on the role of a "chess player" to face off one-on-one against Enrique. They will compete in strategy to lead their respective teams to victory.

According to Mascherano, PSG, which has just won the UEFA Champions League, is currently the best team in Europe. Their quality is clearly far superior to Inter, which only holds the title of defending champion of Major League Soccer. Moreover, Messi and his teammates have already passed their prime, unlike ten years ago.

Nevertheless, Mascherano stated, Inter arrives with greater motivation as representatives of the host country. They have already instilled fear after defeating the European representative, Porto, in the group stage. "This sport has proven that anything can happen in a match," he said.

Enrique held a reunion at the most opportune time. Previously, the achievements of the coach were always associated with Messi and his teammates. However, he has successfully shed that shadow after leading PSG to its first Champions League title at the end of May.

PSG last season was different from previous ones. After losing striker Kylian Mbappe, they relied more on the collective effort of young stars rather than depending on a single megastar. Enrique is the mastermind behind that success.

Alba, a former protégé of Enrique at Barca and the Spanish national team, has always held the coach in high regard. "I have repeatedly said that Enrique is the best coach in the world. We will embrace him when we meet later, but after that, we will strive to defeat him," he stated.

For Alba, Enrique is not only excellent in terms of football but also in human management. The 55-year-old coach is capable of maintaining team harmony effectively. When a good relationship is established in the locker room, it will also be reflected on the field.

One of the greatest legacies of Enrique's tenure at Barcelona is the trio known as "MSN," consisting of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar Jr. Enrique successfully discovered the right formula to combine these three megastars. Together, they managed to combine for 364 goals and 173 assists over three seasons.

According to Suarez, the ability to motivate is Enrique's greatest strength. "He is very important in my career journey. I already had a competitive DNA before playing under his guidance. After being with him, he was able to elevate that to a higher level," he said.

Enrique, along with Messi and his teammates, collectively won nine trophies during the 2014-2017 season. This beautiful story is eternally recorded in history. Now, they will set that aside to compete for a ticket to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup.

Ahead of the meeting with his former protégé, Enrique is reluctant to be overly confident. He stated that the home team from the United States is favored due to the condition of the field. The coach is also less satisfied with the high rebound conditions of the field during the group stage.

"What I truly care about is the condition of the playing field, and I mentioned this on the day we won. The ball bounces almost like a rabbit hopping around," said Enrique. (AP/REUTERS)