- Title: Luis Enrique hopes for miraculous swoop on La Liga title
- Date: 20th May 2017
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (MAY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) BARCELONA PLAYERS IN TRAINING SESSION ATTACKERS LIONEL MESSI AND LUIS SUAREZ ARRIVING FOR TRAINING SESSION COACH LUIS ENRIQUE MARTINEZ ARRIVING AT TRAINING SESSION ATTACKER NEYMAR ARRIVING AT TRAINING SESSION MIDFIELDERS ANDRES INIESTA AND IVAN RAKITIC IN TRAINING SESSION MESSI, LUIS SUAREZ AND NEYMAR IN TRAINING SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING GOALKEEPER MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN TRAINING PLAYERS TRAINING LUIS ENRIQUE AND STAFF IN TRAINING SESSION VARIOUS OF PLAYERS TRAINING LUIS ENRIQUE ARRIVING IN NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM LUIS ENRIQUE DRINKING WATER FROM A BOTTLE JOURNALISTS / LUIS ENRIQUE NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "I'm prepared for tomorrow's key match to win the league title, although it isn't in our hands, what depends on us is to win the match. It's a special night of course, something logical and normal. You know that you'll become Barca coach one day if you have the luck and the fortune that I had in that moment, and I already knew in advance that it was going to be a short time regardless of the years that I would be here." PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "I'm very proud to have have been part of this story and to have given my best, and nothing more. I am very grateful to the club for what they have given me throughout my eight years as a player and six as a coach, I am privileged and nothing else. I will not give special importance to the fact that this is my last game because next season I will be sitting in my seat at Nou Camp as a partner, so it's not a farewell, it's a see-you-soon." PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, LUIS ENRIQUE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "The only objective that is clear is to help the team to win the three points. If after that we get the miracle (of Madrid losing their match) fantastic and we'll celebrate it, but if not then we'll congratulate the champions. That is the modus operandi that I have as a person and as a professional. The main goal tomorrow is to win the three points through good football." PLAYERS TRAINING LUIS ENRIQUE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2017 13:44
- Keywords: Eibar Barcelona Luis Enrique
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016HN5VZZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Barcelona play host to Eibar on Sunday (May 21) and La Liga leaders Real Madrid play on-form Malaga in final La Liga matches which could see either Real or Barca become the 2017 champions.
Last month Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said his side's chances of stealing the league title were as likely as pigs flying.
This week Enrique presides over his final league match as Barcelona coach, and he acknowledges an upset is possible although a miracle would be needed.
Barcelona lie second in the league with 87 point but are ahead on goal difference. Real Madrid are first with 90 points.
It is conceivable that Barcelona win on Sunday and Real Madrid lose, in which case Barcelona come from behind to take La Liga title. But it is more likely there is no upset and Real take the title after a five year wait.
Luis Enrique became Barcelona coach in 2014, and his team could yet win the King's Cup next May 27 against Alaves at Vicente Calderon Stadium. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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