Jose Enrique expects Barcelona to improve against Celtic after Alaves shock
Monday 12 September 2016 14:45, UK
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique expects his side to rally from their shock 2-1 defeat to Alaves when Celtic arrive at the Nou Camp in the Champions League, on Tuesday.
Enrique came under pressure after making seven changes - including leaving Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench - as Barcelona's 100 per cent start to the season was ended in dramatic fashion by Alaves' first league win at the Nou Camp in a decade.
"I would like to never lose," Enrique said on Monday. "This team has had two years (of success) beyond any doubt, but that doesn't mean we can't lose.
"We will try to change that, but we are not interested in the past. The team has reacted well. They are obviously annoyed because we don't like and are not accustomed to losing at home.
"We have the shortest turnaround you can have between games. The players are rested and desperate to compete and play again in the Camp Nou in a competition that excites us."
Barca beat Celtic 3-1 in a pre-season friendly in Dublin in July, but Enrique expects a very different clash and praised the impact made by Brendan Rodgers since taking charge in Glasgow.
"It helps to have played them in pre-season, but in terms of intensity and fighting for the three points there is a huge difference," he added.
"He loves good football, he is a coach that likes to play on the front foot, to take the game to the opposition and you can see that already in his short time at Celtic.
"They have made good signings and have players that will cause us problems. I like Rodgers as a coach and his idea of how to play football."
