Enrique overcomes doubts and revolt to emerge on top
Enrique has not for the first time in his career followed in Guardiola’s footsteps by landing the treble: Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of Juventus added the Champions League to La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs
MADRID: When Luis Enrique was hired as Barcelona boss just over a year ago his challenge was a daunting one; to bring back the glory years of Pep Guardiola.
Fast-forward 12 months and Enrique has not for the first time in his career followed in Guardiola’s footsteps by landing the treble: Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of Juventus added the Champions League to La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs.
Enrique succeeded Guardiola as Barca captain in his playing days in the 1990s and as Barca B coach when the Bayern Munich boss took the top job at the Camp Nou in 2009.
Yet, they took different routes to delivering Barca’s two best seasons in a storied 115-year history.
Whereas the fiercely proud Catalan Guardiola was loved not only for winning, but imposing a style of play that saw many round the world hail his side as the best in the history of football, Enrique has had to overcome doubts and dressing room revolt before ending the season on top.
Even now he has doubts about his future. After leaving star duo Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench for a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad and January, Enrique was rumoured to be on the verge of the sack.
Uncertain future
In the week following the Sociedad defeat he saw a trusted ally in sport- ing director Andoni Zubizarreta sacked and another former teammate Carles Puyol walk out on the club in solidarity with Zubizarreta.
A stubborn character who once turned his back on Real Madrid to cross Spanish football’s great divide, the 45-year-old appears not to have forgotten that criticism as he has ruled out leaving the club.
“The truth is I don’t know if I will continue,” he said.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu called club elections for this summer when under pressure in January. And whether it is he or a new face in charge of the club come July is likely to influence Enrique’s decision.
“It has been a difficult year and I’m very thankful to the people who have believed in me. I never thought we would win the treble, but one always tries to do their job to the best that they can.”
Enrique’s record of 50 wins in 60 games is far superior to the 42 in 62 matches Guardiola managed his treble-winning debut campaign.
Barca’s front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar outgunned the previous club re- cord of 100 goals by a forward line that season by Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o with a sensational 122.
Meanwhile, Enrique’s men were even meaner at the back with 33 clean sheets in all competitions.
“I hate comparisons,” said Gerard Pique when quizzed on the differences between this Barca and Guardiola’s side.
“There are people that would prefer we played like a few years ago but it works.”
And Andres Iniesta is hoping Enrique is not quite done fol- lowing Guardiola’s example just yet and stays on to mark an era at Barca.
“Both trebles are special. The first time you think you’ll never do it again, and yet we have,” said the Spaniard, who was named man-ofthe-match against Juventus.
“For us he is our coach and we hope that next year he will be there with us. He hasn’t said anything to the contrary and next year we will have new challenges.
“It has been a spectacular season in every aspect, it is a spectacular day for us.”