Spanish manager Luis Enrique has remained coy over signing an extension at Camp Nou and has admitted that there are a lot of negatives of being in charge of Barcelona.
The Catalan giant’s performances this season have taken a major hit and a lot of fingers have been pointed at Luis Enrique, who is the man at the helm.
In a recent interview with Barca TV, Enrique, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, has not given any indication as to whether or not he will continue managing the Blaugrana come the 2017/18 campaign. According to ESPN, he was quoted as saying, “I have no doubt that I’m at the best team, with the best club, with the best players, in my house and with my family, winning things and being very involved.
“But there is also one thing about this job that is very hard, it costs me a lot and it’s a negative that I have to factor in when considering the next few seasons. I am aware that I am either here [with Barcelona] or nowhere. I have time and the club will stand by me.”
Enrique has guided Barcelona to back-to-back La Liga and Copa del Rey doubles in his two seasons in charge and also won the Champions League in the 2014/15 campaign. The former Celta Vigo boss has stated that he is happy at the club, but is no close to signing an extension.
Unlike his other seasons at the club, this time things have taken an entirely different trajectory for the Bluagrana. While they have qualified for the Round of 16 as group winners, their domestic form has raised few causes of concern.
Barcelona have ended 2016 in second place – three points adrift of leaders Real Madrid who have a game in hand. They have failed to win six of their sixteen games in the league this term, including shock losses to newly promoted Deportivo Alaves at the Camp Nou.
So far, there have been no official talks about a potential contract extension between Enrique and the club hierarchy. President Josep Bartomeu has stated that the manager has the entire backing of the boardroom, but has not given any assurances about his future.
The pressure is bound to be mounting on the former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder, who could be relieved of his duties come the end of the season. Thus, the next weeks play a key role as to see whether or not he can turn things around for the club and prove to Bartomeu that he is the right one for the job.
