Luis Enrique has urged his Barcelona players to be wary of a potential Eibar backlash when they travel to Ipurua on Saturday.
The Catalans currently sit atop La Liga, a point clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid, having lost just twice since the turn of the year, in stark contrast to their forthcoming opponents, who have suffered seven straight defeats, despite a bright start to the season.
“We spent the week strategising [our opponents] as usual, devoting special attention to our rivals without thinking beyond them,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“We have to assess the difficulties that playing at a venue such as Ipurua can pose us.
“It won’t be easy, but for me there’s only one match, which is against Eibar. There’s nothing beyond that. We need the win to stay ahead [in La Liga].
“I think [Eibar] are having a very good season. They’re working at a very high level.
“[Josep Maria Bartomeu, Sandro Rosell and Barca facing trial] is a subject which is in the hands of justice. We’re used to countless rumours and controversies. We just try to do our job.
“I can’t always count on all my players, but titles are won by teams. We’ve used many players in the squad [this season].
“Clearly, the rest of the season depends on us, but it’s as it were in that there are always surprises around the corner.
“The fact that we train as a collective makes it difficult to assess the fitness of the players. Every week is a microcycle, but I think the players are in [optimum] shape.
“[On Malaga serving as a warning], that’s what I like! Taking positives… Rivals always have their weight, regardless of when we win or lose.
“If we’re not doing well, surprises can happen, and more so in the case of Eibar, a match which none of you [journalists] seem interested in.”
