Luis Enrique: I suppose I'd be among the top 20 managers, right?

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique gave an ironic response to being asked about his absence from the three nominees for the best manager in La Liga last season. 

“Am I surprised at not being among the three [managers]? A good question. I suppose I’d be among the 20, right?” he commented in a humorous manner after the Catalan Super Cup loss to Espanyol. 

On not going to the LFP awards gala, he added: “They [the LFP] hadn’t even invited me. Perhaps as they know that I don’t go to these type of events so they preferred not to.” 

However, he didn’t want to criticise the event and its prizes any more than that: “These type of shows don’t interest me, what I’m concerned about is that my players end the season winning titles.”  

Luis Enrique didn’t want to give relevance to the criticism he received for resting the majority of his first team for the Catalan Super Cup. 

“I have to think first about my team and we have a brutal schedule,” he said. 

“But I’m pleased with the role of all my players [against Espanyol], of the image they gave and of what they offered. 

“You have to put yourself in my situation, although I accept that it could have annoyed some people.”  

Luis Enrique assured that he hasn’t “heard or read” anything in respect to the drama surrounding Neymar supposedly provoking the Mestalla fans. “We have to continue with our own business, ignore the rest,” he added. 

And on Paco Alcacer’s continued goal drought: “There were very few spaces and nine defenders in the area.” 

With respect to the game, the Barcelona boss said: “We deserved more than the final result reflects because we had the ball and the possession all the time. They scored with their only moment of danger.”