Enrique keen to focus on Deportivo
LUIS ENRIQUE is urging Barcelona to put their “special week” behind them and instead concentrate on beating Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga as the Catalans pursue another treble.
Barca looked set to exit the Champions League, which they last won two years ago, when losing 4-0 at Paris St Germain, but the French side were in for the shock of their lives in the return leg.
Despite the fact Edinson Cavani grabbed an away goal at the Nou Camp, Barca pulled off an historic comeback to win 6-1, with Sergi Roberto scoring at the death to book a quarter-final place.
Things are looking up on the domestic front, too, with a Copa del Rey final showdown with Alaves arranged and a one-point lead over Real Madrid established in La Liga.
Before today’s trip to Deportivo La Coruna, head coach Luis Enrique, who will step down at the end of the season, sounded a note of caution at his pre-match press conference.
“This weekend all I care about is how good Deportivo are, despite the special week we have just experienced,” he said.
“I am relying on the experience of my players and that they will know how much is at stake.
“Everything is still to be decided. The reality is that we are alive in three competitions and want to prosper in them all.”
Not only is history on Barca’s side – they have scored 21 times across their last four trips to Riazor – but the Catalans are riding a wave of prolificity in front of goal.
In warming up for their remarkable showing against PSG, they thrashed Sporting Gijon 6-1 and Celta Vigo 5-0, with the result against the French club meaning they have notched 17 goals in three games.
Pepe Mel, the new Deportivo manager, should be more concerned, but his 17th-placed Galician side are unbeaten since he arrived.
He said: “We have a fit squad and it’s better to have guys at 100% than at 60%. That matters a lot.”