Barcelona coach Luis Enrique today predicted that this could be the season when his former club end their 15-year wait for a fourth Scudetto.
Enrique, who managed Roma during the 2011-12 season, will today come up against the Giallorossi in the 50th edition of the Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou.
In an exclusive interview ahead of the game, the Barca coach opened up about his time at the Olimpico, revealed how Francesco Totti has surprised him and delivered his verdict on Roma’s title chances…
Congratulations on a fantastic 2014-15 season! Were you expecting such immediate success at Barcelona?
“When you start your first season in charge at Barça you don’t expect things to go absolutely perfectly, they are always difficult seasons with tough competitions- I hoped the team would do well, but never thought they would repeat the best ever season in the Club’s history. I’m very happy and keen to get started on a new campaign.”
What impact did your year at Roma have on you as a coach?
“It had a very positive influence. It was a difficult year because the idea at the club was to start a transitional period towards a team that could take young players and play attractive football. I really liked that idea and although it was hard at the start, with the language problem and the footballing ideas we were trying to transmit, it was very rewarding in terms of my relationship with the players and the club, I am still in contact with many people who were at or are still at Roma. I felt the fans were always behind us, even when the results weren’t as good as we had all hoped for.”
After the Champions League final, you sent a special message to Roma and the Giallorossi fans. What is your fondest memory of your year in Rome?
“I have a lot of fond memories from my time there – especially the friends I made like Claudio Bisceglia who worked with me in Rome and helped us a lot, and all of the Roma fans who I knew wanted us to win for the typical rivalry between Italian teams. It was a message for all of them.”
As someone who knows all about the club, how would you evaluate Rudi Garcia’s work so far?
“Very good. He’s in his third season now. His first year was spectacular, going head to head with Juventus for the title, playing great football and coming close to taking the Scudetto. Last year was similar, but Juve were almost unstoppable and it was a tougher ask, but with the signings he’s made this summer I think they can really push Juve and take the title. It’d be great, I hope it all goes well because the fans are so passionate and it’s a city which is close to the team.”
What’s your view on the current Roma side going into the new Serie A season?
“They look good. They are in the Champions League again and I think the new signings and the hard work over the last few years will take them closer than ever to Juve in the league.”
What are you expecting from Barcelona in the Champions League this season and how far can Roma go in the competition?
“The Champions League is a special tournament which never has a single dominant side. Every year there are teams who nobody counts on at the start of the season who then reach the quarter finals and the semis, even the final. Roma’s fate depends a lot on the draw, like the rest of us – then we’ll see how the season pans out.”
You’ll cross paths with Francesco Totti again on Wednesday. Are you surprised to see him still playing at this level four years after your time at Roma?
“I’m surprised that he still has that ability. I’ve been watching the pre-season matches against Manchester City and Real Madrid and he’s a unique player on the ball, very hard to mark and capable of making other people play well. I was surprised at his fitness and strength. He’s one of the best players we’ve seen, definitely, and when I was with him at Roma I could see he was a great professional with undying loyalty to his club.”
Having managed both Totti and Messi, are there any similarities between the two on and off the pitch?
“All great players always have things in common, but Messi is unique and for me he’s the best player in the history of the game. Francesco is one of the best European players and thanks to his commitment and physical and mental strength, he’s still playing at a great level.”
Finally, will it be an emotional moment to cross paths with Roma again on Wednesday?
“It’ll be at the Camp Nou, which is always special for me, all the more so as it’s against Roma and I’ll see four of the players I coached there (De Rossi, Totti, Pjanic and Lobont), as well as coaching staff I shared a lot with and directors who I had a great relation with and who always supported me. It’ll be special, I’m sure and I hope we see a great game and we are all happy – and that Barça win, of course!”
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