Barca coach stays upbeat
Print Edition
BARCELONA has leaked eight goals in its opening two official games of the season and will need a drastic improvement in defense if it is to have any chance of denying Athletic Bilbao the Spanish Super Cup.
After edging Sevilla 5-4 to win the European Super Cup last Tuesday, Barcelona suffered a 0-4 drubbing at Bilbao in Friday’s first leg, thanks to an Aritz Aduriz hat-trick, and hosts the Basques for the return today.
The defeat for the Spanish and European champion at the San Mames, when coach Luis Enrique fielded a weakened side, means its hopes of matching 2009’s feat of winning all six competitions it contested are hanging by a thread.
Luis Enrique has refused to throw in the towel and told a news conference yesterday he and the players are “utterly convinced” they can turn the tie around.
If Barcelona manages it, it will prevent Bilbao lifting its first silverware since it won the Spanish Super Cup in 1984-85.
“It’s a challenge that a team of this quality is capable of meeting,” Luis Enrique said.
“If we do things well we will have a chance,” said the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, noting that his side regularly put four goals or more past opponents. “We will be fresher than in the first leg and when Barcelona is playing anything can happen.”
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