Champions League

Sunday Oliseh Backs PSG to Win Champions League for Emotional Reason

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has thrown his support behind Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to win this season’s UEFA Champions League, but not because of football tactics or team strength.

Even though PSG are not the top favourites compared to clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona, and Inter Milan, Oliseh wants the French side to go all the way – mainly because of his admiration for their manager, Luis Enrique.

PSG reached the semi-finals after beating Aston Villa 5-3 on aggregate and will now face Arsenal, who shocked Real Madrid with a 5-1 win over two legs.

Oliseh, who once played for clubs like Ajax, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund – all already out of the competition – explained that his support for PSG comes from a personal story involving Enrique.

He recalled a match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when Nigeria beat Spain 3-2, with both Oliseh and Jay-Jay Okocha playing key roles. Enrique played for Spain at the time.

“In 1998, I thought Luis Enrique was a bad loser when he kneed Jay-Jay Okocha for dribbling him as we led 3-2,” Oliseh wrote in a post.

However, his view changed in 2015 after seeing Enrique lead Barcelona to a Champions League victory against Juventus. Oliseh was in the stadium with a friend and witnessed something touching.

“At the Berlin stadium, I saw him walk away from the celebrations, not even looking at the players. His eyes were only on his sick daughter, Xana. My heart broke,” he said.
“His love for his daughter reminded me of mine for my own daughter, Shanice.”

Xana sadly passed away later that year from bone cancer. That moment changed how Oliseh saw Enrique – from an angry footballer to a loving father with deep emotion and character.

Now, Oliseh hopes to see Enrique win the Champions League again, this time with PSG – and for even more meaningful reasons.

“Next UCL champ?,” he wrote, sharing his hope that Enrique and PSG will lift the trophy.

Luis Enrique has already guided PSG to the 2024/25 Ligue 1 title, his second league title since becoming manager in 2023.

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