Before the match against the "Valencia" team at the press conference organized, "Barcelona" head coach Luis Enrique emphasized that their future opponents have significantly strengthened during the summer, but immediately reassured that his team will fight only for victory.
After the so-called national teams break, the Catalan club plays much more effectively and productively than last month.
Last weekend, "Barcelona" convincingly defeated "Sevilla" 5:1, and in the middle of the week, the Catalans showed no mercy to the opponent APOEL from Nicosia, defeating them 4:0 in the Champions League as guests.
However, on Sunday, "Barca" will face a tough match away against "Valencia", who currently occupies the fourth position in the Spanish championship.
"I think our opponent is now a completely different team than the one that played last season. "Valencia" has done a great job in the player market this summer and strengthened all positions. Moreover, this is a team that plays very confidently at home," - discussed Luis Enrique at the press conference.
This Saturday, "Barcelona" doctors allowed Andres Iniesta, who has recovered from an injury, to play at full throttle, which will undoubtedly strengthen "Barca" in difficult matches.
"A victory at the "Mestalla" stadium would be a great achievement. It would give the team even more confidence in their abilities. The players have played excellently in the last few matches, so an additional boost of energy and motivation would be very valuable now," - noted the coach.
However, there are also some unpleasant news in the "Barca" camp. The defender Thomas Vermaelen, acquired from "Arsenal" in London in the summer, will undergo surgery and will not be able to play for 4-6 months. The media has already reported that "Barcelona" will likely have to request permission to buy a player outside the transfer window, as FIFA sanctions prohibit the Catalans from signing contracts with newcomers in January and during the summer.
"We are missing every injured player, but this is part of the professionals' daily routine. Still, I don't think we will be looking to strengthen in the winter market. Time flies quickly, and Thomas will have opportunities to demonstrate his abilities," - affirmed the coach.
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