As Paris Saint-Germain made their unexpected progress towards the UEFA Champions League final, manager Luis Enrique reflected on his previous appearance in the competition`s climax a decade prior, when he led Barcelona to victory. Yet, it wasn`t the 3-1 win over Juventus in Berlin that primarily occupied his thoughts as he recalled the day. Instead, it was a cherished photograph of his daughter, Xana, who was five years old at the time.
`I have incredible memories because my daughter loved parties, and I`m sure she`s still throwing them wherever she is,` he commented, as reported by Marca. `I remember an amazing photo I have with her at the Champions League final in Berlin, after winning the Champions League, planting an FC Barcelona flag on the pitch. I hope to be able to do the same with PSG. My daughter won`t be there, she won`t be there physically, but she will be there spiritually, and that`s very important to me. I`m motivated to continue moving forward with what life gives me, sharing it with my family.`
This planned gesture would be the latest in a series of tributes to Xana from Enrique and his family, who have actively preserved her memory since her death at age nine in August 2019, following a battle with bone cancer. He has described her as `the star that guides our family` and a significant source of motivation in his professional life. In the years since her passing, he has consistently found ways to integrate Xana`s life into his career milestones, regardless of the occasion.
One such moment occurred in 2022, when Spain`s crucial World Cup group stage match against Germany coincided with Xana`s 13th birthday. He started that day by sharing an Instagram post remembering his daughter, stating, `Today is a special day. Not only because we play Germany, but also because my daughter Xana would be turning 13 years old. My love, wherever you are, we love you. We miss you.`
He also took time after Spain`s 1-1 draw with Germany to speak further about Xana.
`It was a special day for me and my family,` he said. `Obviously, we don`t have our daughter with us physically anymore, but she is still present every day. We remember her a lot, we laugh and think about how she would act in each situation that we experience. This is how life works. It`s not only about beautiful things and finding happiness, it`s about knowing how to manage these moments.`
This approach stems from his family`s deep commitment to keeping her memory vibrant in multiple ways. This includes ensuring memories of her remain central to their daily lives, something he elaborated on in the 2024 documentary `Luis Enrique: You Have No F—ing Idea.` He recounted an interaction with his mother after Xana`s death:
`My mother couldn`t keep photos of Xana until I arrived home and asked her, `Why aren`t there any photos of Xana, mom?“ he said. “I can`t, I can`t.` `Mom, you have to put [up photos of] Xana. Xana is alive.` She isn`t in the physical [sense] but she is in the spiritual [sense] because every day, we talk about her, we laugh and remember because I think Xana still sees us.`
Enrique and his family also established the Xana Foundation, dedicated to providing support for families whose children are affected by serious illness. Enrique acknowledged that he and his wife, Elena Cullell, were fortunate enough to take leave from their work to focus on Xana; he took a leave from his role with the Spain national team in March 2019 before resigning that June, two months before Xana`s death. Recognizing that not all families have this ability, Enrique and his wife created the foundation to offer assistance.
The family cherishes fond memories of Xana, ones he expressed gratitude for having.
`Can I consider myself fortunate or unfortunate? I consider myself fortunate, very fortunate,` he stated in the documentary. `My daughter came to live with us for nine wonderful years. We have thousands of memories of her, videos, incredible things.`
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore