Elche vs Barcelona preview - Enrique calm over Suarez form

Posted Friday, January 23, 2015 by PA

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insists he is not worried by B£75million Luis Suarez's lack of touch in front of goal as he prepares for Saturday's Primera Liga trip to Elche.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international has managed only five goals in 16 appearances for his new club since his summer switch from Liverpool, and only two of them in the league.

However, Enrique is convinced Suarez will return to his lethal best sooner rather than later after seeing him pass up a glorious opportunity during Wednesday night's Copa del Rey victory over Atletico Madrid.

Enrique told www.marca.com: "I'm not worried at all about Luis Suarez not scoring. We are delighted with his performance, behaviour and everything he offers and will offer in the future.

"Everyone makes mistakes: players, coaches, everybody. There are few players that move like Luis Suarez does in the box so how could I be worried?"

Second-placed Barca head into the weekend just a point adrift of Real Madrid, although the leaders, who visit Cordoba on Saturday, have a game in hand.

However, they do so having met Elche three times already this season and scored 12 goals without reply.

They opened the campaign with a 3-0 home win over Fran Escriba's men and dumped them out of the Copa del Ray 9-0 on aggregate, winning 5-0 at the Nou Camp on January 8 before trouncing their hosts 4-0 in the return 10 days later.

In the circumstances, Elche could be forgiven for dreading another visit from the Catalans, who have won each of their last five games in all competitions, although their own league form has improved markedly in recent weeks.

Back-to-back wins over Athletic Bilbao and Levante either side of their home drubbing by Barca have doubled their tally for the season and left them a point clear of the drop zone.

As a result, Enrique is refusing to take anything for granted.

He said: "La Liga is full of surprises. There's something that is important in football, and that is intensity. It has to be there in every game because otherwise, any team can beat you.

"I am convinced that Elche will come out with that intensity and will try to hurt us on the counter-attack."