‘I aim for better than last year’ says Barcelona’s unsatisfied Luis Enrique

Five titles in 2015 haven't sated Barcelona manager Luis Enrique's thirst for more winning, as the club prepare to return from a brief holiday break on Wednesday.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique shown at a team training session at their Joan Gamper facility on Tuesday. Quique Garcia / EPA / December 29, 2015

Manager Luis Enrique is confident Barcelona will overcome any tiredness to sign off from 2015 in style with victory over Real Betis on Wednesday night.

The Barcelona players returned to training this week following some time away after their triumph at the Club World Cup in Japan and the Christmas break.

Barcelona drew both their La Liga matches before heading to the far east, and now lead the domestic table only on goal difference, although they have a game in hand over Atletico Madrid.

Playmaker Lionel Messi was flown back to Spain in a private jet after attending the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai to make sure he would be available ahead of what is set to be his 500th appearance for Barcelona.

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Enrique feels the group have enough energy to produce the required performance against Betis, which will start a hectic domestic schedule before the Champions League resumes with a tie against Arsenal.

“There is always a bit of worry about tiredness after the players have taken some time off, but after watching them train this morning, I have every reason to feel optimistic,” Enrique said at a press conference, reported on the official Barcelona website.

“Betis is an attractive game with important points at stake.

“The only important thing is to get three points and extend our lead at the top of the table.

“I aim for better than last year – nobody can take what we won in 2015 away from us. It is part of the club.”

Barcelona will also face a two-leg Copa del Rey tie against city rivals Espanyol in January.

To cope with the extra workload, Enrique will turn to summer signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal, who have yet to play this season because of Barcelona’s transfer ban.

“To help with that, we have got two new players coming in, but we will need to bring them in gradually so that they can get back into the right rhythm,” Enrique said of the duo, who can be registered from the start of 2016.

“They are dying to get out there and start helping the team on the pitch, and not just from the sidelines.

“They have settled in very nicely and now all that remains is for them to start enjoying their football for real.”

Enrique, though, indicated there could yet be movement in and out of the Camp Nou when they transfer window reopens.

“At Barca we always have an eye on the market,” he said.

“We are looking at everything, the window hasn’t opened, but you always have to think about improving the team.

“That means not just players coming in, but also players leaving.

“It is possible that players leave, but it will be based on reinforcing the team.”

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