Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique is looking forward to seeing former Ivory Coast international Yaya Touré again when his side face Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League.
The meeting will bring together two men who know each other from their time at Barcelona, although their roles have now changed significantly.
Touré, who enjoyed a distinguished playing career with Barcelona and Manchester City, is embarking on his first coaching assignment with Slovakian champions Slovan. Luis Enrique, meanwhile, is preparing PSG for another Champions League challenge.
Speaking on the eve of the match against Slovan, Luis Enrique reflected on Touré’s transition from one of Africa’s most celebrated midfielders to a coach making his mark in European football.
“When he was a player at Barcelona, I coached the youth teams and then the B team. He was a top player. He gained experience as an assistant. Slovan is his first coaching experience.
“I saw a team that likes to have the ball. He’s using his experience from Barcelona and Man City. We’ll see tomorrow if he’ll have that same desire to play or if he’ll be more defensive. You have to know how to manage things.
“Away games are always difficult. When you play at home, there are things that can work in your favor. But all matches are complicated. You have to press as much as possible,” said the coach, a two-time European champion with PSG.
The match represents an important moment in Touré’s early managerial career after he guided Slovan through an unbeaten Champions League qualifying campaign in August 2026.
The former Ivory Coast midfielder helped the Slovakian champions negotiate a difficult route to the group stage, culminating in a dramatic victory over NK Celje.
Slovan eventually secured qualification with a 2-1 win after extra time, completing a 3-2 aggregate victory in the play-off tie.
That achievement marked another significant step in Touré’s transition from the pitch to the dugout.
Touré’s experience at the highest level of European football gives him an important foundation as he begins his managerial career. During his playing days, he won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2009, becoming part of the side that defeated Manchester United in the final.
His versatility was also on display on that occasion, with Touré playing at centre-back during the final despite being better known for his commanding performances in midfield.
For African football, his emergence as a coach at Champions League level adds another chapter to the career of one of the continent’s most recognisable players of the modern era.
Touré was a key figure for Ivory Coast during his international career and became one of the country’s most successful footballers. His move into coaching now gives him an opportunity to build a reputation from the technical area.
His first major challenge at Slovan has already produced encouraging results.
The unbeaten qualifying run demonstrated that the former Manchester City midfielder has been able to transfer some of his experience from elite European football into his new role. Slovan’s ability to maintain possession has also caught the attention of Luis Enrique.
