Can Luis Suarez relieve the pressure on Barcelona boss
Barcelona chief Luis Enrique is under considerable pressure after back-to-back defeats, and needs his star striker to start firing. Will Suarez find the net against Ajax?
Wednesday 5 November 2014 12:55, UK
It almost sounded like there was relish to Luis Enrique's voice when he announced that the week ahead was going to be fun. "Hunting season has begun," said the Barcelona boss.
Crosshairs were certainly being sighted by local press after the home defeat to Celta Vigo on Saturday, the first time that Barca have lost successive La Liga games in seven years. The normally friendly local media have had to do a rapid U-turn. After praising the team with the impenetrable defence, the unstoppable and unselfish Leo Messi, and the dynamic Ivan Rakitic, perceptions have been re-written after Barca were overrun by Real Madrid then beaten in the Camp Nou by an opponent Enrique managed last season.
At least the Barca boss is well used to the duck and cover approach to football having become a hate figure as a player for crossing the divide between the Santiago Bernabéu and the Camp Nou in the 1990s, and then suffering the wrath of the Romans during a troubled spell in Serie A as a coach.
Barca weren't especially bad on Saturday, it's just that that they failed to get past an inspirational Celta Vigo goalkeeper, who saved nine shots on target from the home team. Barcelona have played worse this season but prevailed against less talented teams. Although Enrique's side are just two points from the top of the table, which is hardly a disaster in practical terms, this is not a stoic institution that tends to ride the bad times well. Full on panic and blame assigning are always the first point of order when the good times go bad.
The Champions League may offer Enrique chance to outrun critics with Luis Suárez returning to an old haunt in the form of Ajax. Despite the striker playing in two defeats so far, there are no fingers of doubt pointing in the Uruguayan's direction. It is very much a case of the right guy for the club, but perhaps at the wrong time. A couple of goals against the Dutch team would be rather timely, although it's perhaps the only opportunity Suárez will have to face a former team this season.
That's because Liverpool's days in the Champions League look rather numbered with Brendan Rodgers taking his team to the Spanish capital for another dose of Ronaldo and co. The Anfield loss was comprehensive to say the least and confidence is currently so high in the Madrid camp - with the team moving to the top of the table after a 4-0 victory against Granada - that Carlo Ancelotti may not even play Gareth Bale, despite the Welshman returning from a bum muscle injury.
The Italian coach is enjoying one of those rare moments when everyone in the team appears to be in top form, even the flakier elements such as Iker Casillas and Marcelo. Of course, this won't last but the golden period will at least have seen Real Madrid potentially qualifying for the next round of the Champions League, winning the Clásico with some élan and then digging in at the top of La Primera.
However, there are plenty of teams ready to pounce should Madrid take their foot off the gas, a refreshing change from previous seasons of only one or two challengers. Atletico Madrid, of course, are hanging off Real's shoulder after a win over Córdoba, as are Valencia which is probably in their most confident mood for some time now that the Peter Lim buy-out is completely signed off. Even Sevilla are still lurking despite bottling the chance to go top with a defeat to Athletic Bilbao, who are finding their feet again.
Barcelona are of course in that cluster but the way the mood is in the camp, there is the impression that the team are fighting relegation. A victory against Ajax is vital not just to edge closer to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, but also to ease some of the massive pressure now building on Luis Enrique.
