‘I don’t want to get involved in other people’s business’: Luis Enrique rules out emotional Barcelona return to replace under-fire Ronald Koeman by committing to his Spain contract
- Ronald Koeman is facing the sack at Barcelona after a poor run of results
- Spanish giants lost their opening two Champions League ties for the first time
- Barca have only won three matches in LaLiga and sit outside the top four sides
- Luis Enrique stressed he will remain will Spain and honour his current contract
Luis Enrique has confirmed he will not be the knight in shining armour Barcelona are craving, as the pressure looks to engulf current manager Ronald Koeman.
Koeman has overseen a terrible start to the season, with Barca winning just three LaLiga matches so far while also losing their first two Champions League group fixtures for the first time in the club’s history.
The ongoing crisis is playing out in the post-Lionel Messi era and now Koeman is facing widespread calls to be removed from his position at the Nou Camp.
Luis Enrique has confirmed he will not be leaving his role with Spain to return to Barcelona
Managers across the world are getting linked with the role as a result, yet fans’ favourite Enrique has ruled himself out of the running.
The former Barca boss currently coaches the Spain national team and has a contract running until after the Qatar World Cup in late 2022.
This week Enrique has addressed speculation and confirmed he would ‘not be getting involved’ with the mess at his former stomping ground.
Ronald Koeman is on the brink after making the worst Champions League start in Barca history
The Catalan side are in a mess and risk falling behind both in Europe and domestically
Speaking following Barca’s latest humiliating victory on the European stage Enrique said: ‘I’m a coach here [Spain] for a second time, and it’s my custom to keep my word. I’ll be here until my contract ends, for sure,’ as report AS.
‘Despite my proud history with that club, I don’t want to get involved in other people’s business.’
When asked whether current Barca president Joan Laporta had at least sounded him out regarding the possibility of a return some time later down the line, Enrique simply replied: ‘I don’t think he has my phone number.’
Wednesday’s shock 3-0 defeat to Benfica means Barca remain rock bottom of Group E in Europe, behind third placed Dynamo Kiev who have just one point.
In LaLiga the Catalonians are undefeated, but three wins and three draws from six matches sees the club sitting outside the top four positions.
Barca face Atletico this weekend with Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann set to lead the line
Further embarrassment could be served up this weekend, as Barca travel to the Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid.
Koeman will come up against a side spearheaded by two attackers he recently turfed out of the Nou Camp, in Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann was given his marching orders this summer in order to ease Barca’s financial worries, while Suarez was deemed surplus to requirement at the start of last season, and went on to help Atleti become Spanish champions.
