Enrique unperturbed by ghosts of the past

Catalans face Espanyol in Barcelona derby looking for a win to keep title hopes alive

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted his side won’t be distracted by local rivals Espanyol’s desire to destroy their La Liga title chances in the Catalan derby today.

Luis Enrique’s men hold the slenderest of advantages in the title race with two games remaining as they lead Atletico Madrid thanks to their better head-to-head record while Real Madrid lie a point behind in third.

In eerily similar circumstances Barca were embroiled in a three-way title race with Sevilla and Real when Espanyol travelled to the Camp Nou on the penultimate day of the season nine years ago.



Then, a last-minute equaliser from Raul Tamudo, which came to be known as the “Tamudazo”, snatched the title from Barca’s grasp and allowed Real to be crowned champions the following weekend.

“The Tamudazo doesn’t interest me at all. I don’t remember what happened four weeks ago let alone nine years,” said Enrique. “I am only worried about being better than Espanyol. They are different games. It is a derby where the league is in play so it is even more transcendental. It is our last game at home and we have to go for it from the off.”

Barca’s once-commanding nine-point lead was whittled down due to three consecutive league defeats last month.



However, they have scored 16 goals without reply in winning their last three matches and the coach believes his side have shown the character needed to turn the situation around and retain their title.

“I don’t see there being a delicate situation here. The only thing is that we have lost our advantage,” Enrique added.

Indeed, Barca could even be proclaimed champions today if they win, Atletico lose at already relegated Levante and Real drop points at home to Valencia.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2016.

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