Luis Enrique appeared, at least from the outside, to be a sensible if unspectacular choice to
inherit the managerial reins at Barcelona last summer.
A club legend from his playing days, the Catalan giants resorted to a recruitment policy that
has served them well in the past following a largely forgettable spell under the tutelage of
Gerardo Martino.
Prior to the Argentine, who was dispensed of after just one season at the Camp Nou helm,
Barca had put their faith in figures with strong ties to the club – and had reaped the rewards.
Frank Rijkaard passed the baton to Pep Guardiola, who in turn delivered it to the late Tito
Vilanova.
Between them, they delivered six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns.
Undoubtedly, Guardiola was the man to raise the bar and start a trend of promotion from
within that others have tried – with varying degrees of success – to emulate.
In truth, in much the same way as Manchester United have hit the wall following the
departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, Barcelona have never quite been the same without a
talismanic figure at the helm.
Enrique was supposed to be the man to turn the corner, but he appears to have been given the
wrong directions. In many ways, perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
by EnricAndDestroy
While there is no questioning his achievements on the field, the former Spain international
has hardly set the world alight in coaching circles.
There are not too many figures who would expect to be considered for one of the biggest jobs
on the planet on the back of two one-season stints at Roma and Celta Vigo that failed to
deliver win percentages of over 50 per cent.
It also has to be noted that Enrique’s history in the dugout has seen questions asked of his
management style and an apparent reluctance to cater to the demands of key figures.
While in Italy, reports emanated of a falling out with club icon Francesco Totti – an
untouchable figure in the Eternal City and one who was always going to come out on top in
any battle for control in the eyes of supporters and club bosses.
Enrique, to no one’s surprise, was the one to move on. He was, however, to be offered
another shot at the big time three years down the line, with an exit from Celta swiftly
followed by an appointment at Barca.
Surely he would not be as stubborn in La Liga as he was in Serie A, would he? Well, if you
believe what you read, then lessons of the past have not been heeded.
Rather than follow the Guardiola blueprint, open his ears to the players and the press, Enrique
has sought to build walls and alienate himself.
Remarkably, among those he has managed to ostracise is none other than Lionel Messi – the
jewel in Barcelona’s crown and the man around which Enrique would have been expected to
try and build his empire.
It is impossible to ignore the similarities to his spell in Rome, with Messi – who is reported
to no longer be on speaking terms with his boss – playing the role of Totti as the pair
endeavour to put their differences to one side for the good of the collective cause.
Again, you get the feeling that there will only be one winner if an uncomfortable situation
becomes a battle of wills.
Messi, a public supporter of Martino, perhaps has not embraced the arrival of the new man at
the helm in quite the manner that Enrique would have liked, but surely that is one relationship
he should have been looking to cement from the outset.
As it is, with Barcelona slipping in La Liga betting markets as they continue to trail arch-
rivals Real Madrid and with success in the Champions League far from guaranteed, Enrique
finds himself trudging down an all too familiar path.
His C.V. currently includes two 12-month stints, could he be about to complete the hat-trick?
It is difficult to see how he can avoid such a fate if Barca were to end the campaign empty-
handed, with a Copa del Rey final appearance taking on added importance before a summer
in which Enrique needs to start building a few more bridges than he burns.
