Mes Que un Club - Luis Enrique

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Luis Enrique, remains convinced his faltering team will end their winless run and retain the La Liga title after seeing their treble dreams dashed.

They have surrendered a nine-point lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid after losing their last three games and are now above them only thanks to a superior head-to-head record. Barça, whose Champions League defence was ended by Atlético in the Champions League quarter-finals last week, are also just one point in front of Real Madrid.

However, Luis Enrique remained positive before the trip to Deportivo La Coruña on Wednesday, after which they will have just four games left in the title race.

“I’m convinced we’re going to win the league, if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be sat here,” he said. “I like adversity, that’s how I am. I want to turn this around, win tomorrow and put on a show. I want to delight the fans who are behind us and can’t explain this situation.

Luis Enrique did not give any reasons for the dramatic loss of form, which has seen his side go from 39 games unbeaten in all competitions to losing four of their last five games.

“We are on a negative run but we don’t need to exaggerate. If it’s due to psychology, then we have the best psychologist around [at the club],” he added.

“We’re clinging on to our players and their attitude and their way of competing. We have had moments like this before, we know how to cope with pressure. But we’re playing against teams that can punish us with few chances.

“If the teams with the best players always won, football would be boring.”

Luis Enrique was also unapologetic for deriding a reporter who had asked him about the team’s fitness levels after Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat by Valencia.

"I have nothing to apologise for. I didn’t show anyone a lack of respect,” he said. “Journalists have also shown me a lack of respect. This is my style, I don’t care if you don’t like it.”

Barcelona, who had hoped to repeat the treble they won last season, will be without influential centre-back Gerard Piqué at Deportivo through suspension. He is set to be replaced by Marc Bartra, who has made just three league starts this season.

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FIFA Suspend Madrid Transfer Bans

Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have had their Fifa-imposed transfer bans suspended pending their appeals, both Primera División clubs have announced.

The two clubs were banned by the world governing body earlier this month from registering new signings for the next two transfer windows for breaching rules on the international transfer and registration of players aged under 18.

However, both clubs immediately appealed against the ruling – which would mean they are not be able to register any new players until the summer of 2017 after this month’s window closes – and on Friday night they announced the sanction had been provisionally suspended.

Real said in a statement on their official website: “Real Madrid has announced that the Fifa appeal committee has decided to provisionally suspend the sanction imposed on the club.”

Atlético said in a statement: “The Fifa appeal committee has granted the probationary suspension of the sanction imposed by the disciplinary committee of said body that prevented our club from signing national or foreign football players during the next two full periods of recruitment.

“The probationary suspension of said sanction shall be applied pending the outcome of the appeal filed by our club with the appeal committee of the maximum global governing body of football.”

Barcelona were hit with a similar punishment in April 2014 and their appeal to Fifa and the Cas (court of arbitration for sport) ultimately enabled them to sign six players, including Luis Suárez, in the following transfer window while their ban was suspended.

However, the Madrid clubs will not be able to register players this summer if their appeals are rejected before the window opens.

hey could sign players without being able to register them until the ban is lifted, as Barcelona did with Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal.

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