Pep Guardiola critics fuelled by ‘jealousy’, insists Barcelona manager Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique takes his Barcelona team to face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City on Tuesday. Alejandro Garcia / EPA

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has said he is convinced former teammate Pep Guardiola will succeed at Manchester City and that criticism of his methods are borne out of jealousy.

Guardiola is in the midst of the worst run of results in his managerial career having not won in six games, including a 4-0 thrashing by Enrique’s men on his return to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League last week.

“To the critics of Guardiola it is very easy — don’t worry because he will win for sure,” Enrique said.

Guardiola’s City still top the Premier League table on goal difference thanks to a 10-game winning run to start his reign in English football.

More from the Primera Liga:

• Diego Forlan column: Unfair of Real Madrid fans to boo Cristiano Ronaldo — he will prove the doubters wrong

• Andy Mitten: Kings of the continent for much of the past decade, now Sevilla must look to reign in Spain

However, on top of their Champions League struggles, City were also dumped out of the League Cup by Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United on Wednesday.

“There is no doubt he will win titles this year and do it playing the same football as the start of the season,” Enrique said.

“The critics have to appear because there is nothing worse than watching someone always win. This always generates a lot of jealousy.

“Pep will continue winning and with the arms he considers best, which is playing good football.”

Guardiola, who won 14 trophies in charge of Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, and Enrique go head-to-head once more when Barca travel to Manchester on Tuesday.

However, the Spanish champions first host the Primera Liga’s bottom side Granada at the Camp Nou on Saturday.

Barca have been heavily-affected by injuries in recent weeks with Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba set to miss the trip to City.

Yet, Enrique has said there are no excuses as Barca look to remain hot on the heels of league leaders Real Madrid.

“I don’t see any problem with the squad that we have,” he said.

“We can win the upcoming games, which is the objective. Looking for excuses is not how we do things.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport