Enrique confident Barca will handle the hostility of derby fixture

Andy West 06:38 25/04/2015
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  • Confident: Luis Enrique.

    Handle the hostility – that’s the message from Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as his table-topping side face a testing local derby trip to Espanyol this evening.

    A sensational run of 23 wins in 25 games since early January has given Barca the opportunity to secure an historic treble as they head into the final six weeks of the campaign, with the team through to the Champions League semi-final, the Copa del Rey final and sitting top of La Liga.

    And Enrique is confident that his superstar players will have the right attitude to meet the challenge, saying: “We are where we wanted to be and players can sense it when they are close to silverware. Their mental state is key and I see a team with a lot of opportunities and a positive dynamic.”

    However, Enrique was also keen to emphasise that he is not taking today’s trip to Espanyol lightly, with the Barca boss expecting a typically full-blooded encounter against his team’s local rivals.

    Espanyol are in a good run of form, climbing into the top half of the table thanks to a sequence of six games without defeat, and they have been particularly strong at home, losing just three of their 16 league outings at home this season.

    “It is a key game on hostile territory against an opponent which wants to beat us,” Enrique said. “But we are used to games in this kind of atmosphere. We have to be intense and ambitious, as always.”

    Suspension will deprive Espanyol of key man Victor Sanchez, who started his career in Barca’s youth team, but Enrique doesn’t believe that will weaken the hosts.

    He added: “He is a player ‘made in Barca’, but it’s difficult to know how his absence will affect the game. Sometimes the player who comes into the team uses it as an opportunity. Whoever plays will be motivated.”

    Enrique knows what to expect from the home team, and identified captain and centre forward Sergio Garcia, who has scored 11 league goals this season, as a major threat.

    “They defend in a block and I am concerned about their counter-attacking,” said Enrique. “Sergio Garcia can create openings and they are dangerous from set-pieces. But above all, it’s a derby, and that always has a special meaning.” 

    Despite his wariness of Espanyol’s capabilities, however, Enrique couldn’t avoid a note of optimism and added: “Our forward line is very good. We have three great players who share a wonderful understanding – you only have to look at Messi’s assists.”

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