The journalist at the centre of a social media storm ignited by Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has labelled his treatment of her a ‘public mockery’.
The Spaniard made reference to a nearly decade-long feud with Movistar Plus presenter Susana Guasch after leading the Parisians to the Champions League on Saturday night.
Enrique, who claimed his second European Cup as a manager, joked that he was ‘here for’ Guasch’s colleague, ‘less so’ for another interviewee and ‘not much’ for the journalist who clashed with the 55-year-old in 2016 when he was manager of Barcelona.
During a heated flash interview, Enrique claimed that Guasch – then working for Spanish outlet La Sexta – had provided analysis that was ‘quite superficial, quite gratuitous. It has nothing to do with that of a professional.
The former striker had clearly not forgotten the interaction despite, according to Guasch, the pair not seeing each other for nine years. Guasch took to social media to explain the incident, which sent tongues wagging online.
‘I hadn’t seen him in nine years. I see he hasn’t forgotten my work and that he didn’t like it,’ she said. ‘Hey, well, it’s all a matter of taste… but that’s it, nothing else happened, just that. The best thing is that, almost a decade later, he’s still doing his thing, and so am I.
Luis Enrique made his feelings for journalist Susana Guasch (middle right) very clear on Saturday night
Guasch took to social media to explain the interaction before later revealing that she did not see the funny side of the Spaniard’s comments
Enrique was on cloud nine affter guiding the Parisian’s to their first-ever Champions League crown
‘He’ll still think we journalists don’t have a f***ing clue—the title, by the way, of a wonderful documentary about him, which you can’t miss if you haven’t seen it’
In an interview on Radioestadio Noche, she added: ‘Luis Enrique knew he was the talk of the social networks, he was a public ridicule; he knew what he was doing.
‘What surprises me is that he continues to give me this prominence. I didn’t find any funny side in what he did; he didn’t look at me.’
After leading PSG to an emphatic 5-0 win over Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena, Enrique grabbed headlines for the emotional tribute he paid to his daughter Xana, who died in 2019.
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.
At full-time, he told Sky Sport Italia: ‘My daughter has been with me since she left. She left physically, but she is always with me spiritually.
‘I don’t need a win or a defeat in the Champions League: I feel it anyway. Nothing changes in terms of feelings, I still feel it. And I want to remember all the good things he brought into my life. In life you are born, you die, everything else is seen.’
Enrique paid tribute to his late daughter Xana with a shirt showing them planting a PSG flag
Xana was present a decade ago with a flag when he won his first Treble with Barcelona, and though she died in 2019, he still feels like she is in his life
PSG fans also unveiled a tifo tribute to Xana in the stands, showing him and her planting a flag.
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.’
