New Barcelona manager Luis Enrique: please don’t compare me with Pep
The new Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has asked not to be compared
to Pep Guardiola – at least not until he has won a few trophies – and
has pledged to give youngsters a chance.
The former Barça player was introduced to the media on Wednesday after being appointed as Tata Martino’s successor on Monday. “Please don’t compare me with Pep [Guardiola] now,” he said. “I hope it happens in future because that will mean we are winning titles. Am I apprehensive about the Barça task? Not at all, this is one of the happiest days of my life.”
Enrique represented the Catalan club for eight years and won two league titles, two Spanish Cups and one Cup Winners’ Cup. Asked whether he would continue to play 4-3-3 he said Barcelona would deploy “a system which suits the players we have and gets the best out of them”. He also said he would be delighted to promote young players into the first team.
“I love to support young players but I demand that they show hunger and ambition. The door is open to all B players, and all the players in the youth teams.”
The manager, however, was reluctant to talk about individual players’ futures and asked about Cesc Fábregas, who has again been linked with a move to Manchester United, the 44-year-old – who has also managed Barcelona B, Roma and Celta Vigo – said: “We are not getting into all the names now. We do not have to make decisions now, we have time.”
He did say of Xavi Hernández, another possible exit from the Camp Nou this summer: “I know Xavi, he is a friend, ex-teammate. We will sit down and talk, let us wait and see.” Of Javier Mascherano he said: “He has all the qualities to be captain. Good and important players will stay.”
The Barcelona director of football, Andoni Zubizarreta, added of the new manager: “Luis Enrique has the guts to take on tough challenges. And the challenge Barça face next season is a sizeable one, one that we will confront together.”
The former Barça player was introduced to the media on Wednesday after being appointed as Tata Martino’s successor on Monday. “Please don’t compare me with Pep [Guardiola] now,” he said. “I hope it happens in future because that will mean we are winning titles. Am I apprehensive about the Barça task? Not at all, this is one of the happiest days of my life.”
Enrique represented the Catalan club for eight years and won two league titles, two Spanish Cups and one Cup Winners’ Cup. Asked whether he would continue to play 4-3-3 he said Barcelona would deploy “a system which suits the players we have and gets the best out of them”. He also said he would be delighted to promote young players into the first team.
“I love to support young players but I demand that they show hunger and ambition. The door is open to all B players, and all the players in the youth teams.”
The manager, however, was reluctant to talk about individual players’ futures and asked about Cesc Fábregas, who has again been linked with a move to Manchester United, the 44-year-old – who has also managed Barcelona B, Roma and Celta Vigo – said: “We are not getting into all the names now. We do not have to make decisions now, we have time.”
He did say of Xavi Hernández, another possible exit from the Camp Nou this summer: “I know Xavi, he is a friend, ex-teammate. We will sit down and talk, let us wait and see.” Of Javier Mascherano he said: “He has all the qualities to be captain. Good and important players will stay.”
The Barcelona director of football, Andoni Zubizarreta, added of the new manager: “Luis Enrique has the guts to take on tough challenges. And the challenge Barça face next season is a sizeable one, one that we will confront together.”
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