|
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says Monday's 6-0 friendly win over Club Leon shows that his team are "in good shape" ahead of the new season. - Tomas: Barca's ideal starting XI Barca were always in control of the Trofeo Gamper match after Lionel Messi scored just two minutes into his first appearance since the World Cup, with Neymar also adding two more goals in his first run-out of the new campaign before half-time. The second half saw new signing Luis Suarez get a short run-out and further goals added by young second-half substitutes Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez, with the Mexican side never really threatening. The new Blaugrana coach told the club's official website that the team was now tuned up well ahead of its La Liga opener against Elche on Sunday at the Camp Nou. "We are in good shape as I expected and we will keep improving with matches and training," Enrique said. "In terms of football I would have preferred to have had two months more, but preseasons are what they are." The former Barca midfielder said he was currently working with the players on organising their "pressing" game to win the ball back high up the pitch. "We cannot press by decree -- you have to be organised and targeted," he said. "It is important to have the ball but it is also important to win it back as soon as possible." While Messi and Neymar linked up well, and Javier Mascherano also got his first preseason minutes at centre-back, the performances of the teenage second-half goal-scorers drew much of the attention. Last season's UEFA Youth League star Munir, 18, impressed with two well-taken goals, adding to earlier bright showings through Barca's preseason. "We knew that Munir has the quality, how far he goes depends on him," Luis Enrique said. "It is a delight to have the reserve squad we have." Barca vice-captain Andres Iniesta told AS after the game that the players were getting used to the ideas put across by Luis Enrique through preseason. "He is a new coach, but I believe with this motivation and this work, to try to do things well, with things clear, is very important, the key for the season," Iniesta said. "With the new guys who have come I believe we have a great squad to compete for all trophies. We will try and do that. "The sensations are good, that is what the preparations are for, the physical side, questions of style which we have worked on. Today we tried to put those into practice. The team is used to improving over time. We will try for this next Sunday." New signing Ivan Rakitic, who was prominent as Barca's primary midfield organiser, said afterwards that he was happy with how the team had gelled through their warm-up games. "Above all it was important to play at the maximum level, the rhythm was good," Rakitic said in AS. "In general you can see the idea we have. There are some details left [to sort out], but in general we are going home happy. We must know what the boss is looking for. I am enjoying each day and I hope to continue like this. I will work to improve."
|
