Luis Enrique knows Barça will have to be at their best in Bilbao

The Asturian coach casts an eye over his side's physical shape after the game in the European Super Cup and before the game against Athletic

The FC Barcelona coach spoke in a press conference following training on Thursday ahead of his team’s first leg Spanish Super Cup clash with Athletic Club. How the team have recovered and possible tiredness following the European Super Cup victory in Tbilisi were some of the most commented topic in the press room at the Ciutat Esportiva. For Luis Enrique the fixture list “is what it is” and he hoped that his side would not feel the effort put in against Sevilla on Friday in San Mamés. For the Barça boss, “We are in so many competitions that we are obliged to be at our best from the beginning. Barça are motivated to beat anybody and Athletic always ask a lot of us.”

For the Asturian “we have won when we have done a great job.” He continued: “We will try to be prepared to face the problems the problems we may come across. To win trophies you have to play well in defence and in attack.”

Below we have some of Luis Enrique’s other answers on a variety of topics:

Demanding start

“This season has started in very attractive fashion. Starting the preseason knowing that the two Super Cups were coming up has helped our preparation and helped us be competitive from the start.”

Athletic Club

“They are a team who use the support of their fans to cause problems for their opponents. It will be an uncomfortable match.”

“We are going to play in San Mamés and so we will try to be competitive. Over two legs I think we have the edge but Athletic are always able to trouble us.”

Six trophies

“Beyond the objective that we all have in our heads, it’s something that motivates us, but first we have to focus on the fifth trophy.”

Pedro

“We have expressed our desire that he stay. It’s a tricky one but I see him in good form, just as he has been all pre-season.”

Iniesta

“Iniesta is fine. Today he had no problems in training. In fact everyone who was available last week is fine, despite the efforts of the game in Georgia.”

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