Barcelona President Backs Under Fire Manager Luis Enrique
Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barcelona president [/caption]
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said under fire manager, Luis Enrique will remain the club’s manager next season, despite struggling domestically and in Europe.
The 46-year-old manager came under criticism after his side were battered 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 first leg last week, leaving the Catalan club on the verge of crashing out of the competition in the knockout phase for the first time in a decade.
Enrique’s contract at Camp Nou expires at the end of the season, with majority of the fans calling for his sack on or before the summer.
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However the club’s president said the Barcelona board is fully behind the troubled manager, but added that a decision on his future will be made in the coming months.
“We agreed with him a while ago that we would talk in April,” he said.
“Now it is time to focus on the games that are coming up. Luis Enrique is the coach that we want, he is doing a fantastic job, and with the exception of Paris, we are happy with results.”
Barcelona are one point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who have two games in hand.
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Messi’s a last-minute penalty secured three points for the Catalans against struggling Leganes at the weekend, with some sections of the fans booing Enrique.
“We have to keep fighting for the league. It’s not easy because Real Madrid and Sevilla are strong so it is important to get good results at home,” Bartomeu continued.
“When the game [against PSG] comes around we will take about a comeback. In the first leg the game did not turn out how we wanted it, until then the results had been good.
“I don’t agree that you could see it coming, we have a good team, some of the best players in the world, but we had a bad day.”
Defender, Gerard Pique also said the players are behind the manager despite their poor run of form.
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“When Luis Enrique arrived we were in the absolute shit,” the World Cup winner said. “I would like that we remember all the work he has done with us and all that he did during his time as a player.
“I can’t understand the booing, the short-term memory.
“It’s eight titles out of (a possible) 10 with this coach.
“We are with him to the death.”
