Barcelona vs Celta Vigo - Enrique's Barca farewell tour starts against Celta Vigo

Posted Saturday, March 04, 2017 by PA

Luis Enrique believes Barcelona will come up against one of the toughest sides in LaLiga when they take on Celta Vigo on Saturday - with the outgoing Spaniard targeting trophies before he departs in the summer.

The 46-year-old announced on Wednesday that he will leave his post as Barca coach at the end of the campaign as he will be in need of a rest.

He will no doubt want to end his tenure as manager in style and his side have already reached the Copa del Rey final, where they will face Alaves.

But a 4-0 hammering at Paris St Germain means progression into the quarter-finals of the Champions League looks highly unlikely, while Real Madrid are one point behind their table-topping El Clasico rivals in the league but have played a game less.

That means victory over Celta will be of high importance to Enrique, who admits his former team could cause some problems at the Nou Camp.

"They are one of the toughest to compete against in LaLiga," he told the club's website.

"It will be tough against a team that pressures a lot and marks one-on-one throughout the field.

"The idea is to remain in this good form and arrive in the best condition to face PSG. They are different competitions, but it is an important moment."

Enrique admitted he is "relieved" to have made the announcement of his departure but is remaining focused on adding to the eight major honours he has won since his appointment in 2014.

"I feel relieved and focused on the objectives we have through the end of the season," he said.

"We are all focused on winning titles. There are many games left, and it is difficult for someone to win all of them."

Celta boss Eduardo Berizzo is one of many coaches linked to the Barcelona hot-seat since Enrique's announcement, with his own contract expiring at the end of the campaign.

The 47-year-old replaced Enrique at the Balaidos and guided the club to a sixth-placed finish last season.

They will meet Russian side Krasnodar in the last-16 of the Europa League later this month and take on Barcelona having been the last side to beat the Catalan giants in the league - back in October.

But if Berizzo is to repeat the upset he will have to do so without former Barca man Andreu Fontas, who is suspended after seeing red in the midweek draw with Espanyol.