“We knew it was a tough and strong punishment”, Luis Enrique told reporters. “At the moment we are fine, we are prepared to compete and the players are in exceptional shape and looking forward to winning trophies again”.
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Jordi Alba will keep his place on the opposite side of defense, while Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique will continue as the first choice center back pairing, with Jeremy Mathieu the very able deputy waiting in the wings. Behind them, Ivan Rakitic has had a full season at the club and, having turning out to be progressively persuasive after his exchange from Sevilla the previous summer, ought to tackle much more obligation in midfield.
The European champions return to San Mames on Sunday just over a week after being thrashed there by Athletic Bilbao 4-0 in the Spanish Super Cup.
He was also quoted saying by Football-Espnana: “Last season, we weren’t the favourites because Atletico had won the League”.
On Wednesday, the Competition Committee confirmed that Pique would miss the first four games of the La Liga season, but Barcelona were quick to announce that they fully intended to appeal the ban.
Luis Enrique led Barcelona to a rare sweep of the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey titles last season in his first season in charge, but his ability to motivate the team is now being questioned after Athletic Bilbao dealt the team a 5-1 aggregate loss in the Spanish Super Cup. However, Barca has struggled in the preseason, and is now under a transfer ban until January due to breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.
“I don’t think that right now we have to have Europe as a goal”. They hope to stay further ahead of the drop this season, signing experienced players Fernando Navarro (center-back) and Cani (winger) on free transfers.
Athletic have injury problems of their own with Inaki Williams and Ander Iturraspe doubtful and they could pay physically for a busy schedule over the past week as, after a parade through Bilbao to celebrate their first trophy for 31 years, the Basques were back in action in the Europa League on Thursday away to MSK Zilina in Slovakia.
Who could have predicted that the irresistible footballing force of 2014/15 would look so perplexingly vulnerable two-and-a-half months after securing the second treble in their history?
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“FC Barcelona presented its defence on Tuesday, which included the allegation that the player did not address the linesman in the manner described in the report issued by match referee Velasco Carballo after the game”. With main rivals Real Madrid facing their own problems adapting to life under new manager Rafa Benitez, the Catalans are rightly favorites to retain their crown. They won the race to sign prolific Porto striker Jackson Martinez for 35 million euro and have also brought in the likes of Filipe Luis, Luciano Vietto and Stefan Savic as part of a reported combined summer outlay approaching 100 million euro.
