Gerard Pique calls on Barcelona to win Copa del Rey for Luis Enrique after ‘three magnificent years’

Gerard Pique has said Luis Enrique is one of the best managers to have ever graced Barcelona. David Ramos / Getty Images

Copa del Rey final: Barcelona v Alaves, Vicente Calderon, kick-off 11.30pm (UAE), live on Abu Dhabi Sports HD

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has called on his side to give manager Luis Enrique a fitting send off in Saturday’s Copa del Rey against Alaves.

Barca could win a third consecutive Copa del Rey under Enrique in the final at the Vicente Calderon, the same stage Pep Guardiola bowed out on as manager in 2012, which would mean a ninth trophy out of 13 competitions entered in his three seasons.

Despite being the club’s third-most decorated manager, Enrique has not earned anything like the praise of Guardiola and Johan Cruyff, the two above him in that ranking, and has received plenty of criticism during his tenure for his prickly relationship with the media and for the team’s relative inconsistency in his third campaign.

“He deserves a great final. He’s been one of the best in the club’s history and what better way to bid farewell to him than with a trophy,” Pique said on Friday ahead of the final.

“The easiest thing to highlight is the trophies he has won, but I will always remember the way he has treated us. Perhaps he hasn’t had the best relationship in the world with the press, but in the dressing room he won us all over.

“It’s been three magnificent years, for what we’ve won and for many other things. I hope he can leave on a high, with one more trophy.”

The Cup final is Barca’s last chance of a trophy this season after surrendering the Primera Liga title to Real Madrid and exiting the Uefa Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Italian champions Juventus.

They are looking for a record-extending 29th Copa del Rey triumph, while their opponents are hoping to get their hands on some silverware in their first appearance in a domestic final. Alaves, who finished ninth in the Primera Liga in their first top flight season in a decade, were beaten 5-4 after extra-time by Liverpool in a thrilling Uefa Cup final in 2001.

“They have a unique opportunity to win a trophy, and I’m sure they’re going to be very motivated so we have to match their motivation and make our technical and tactical ability count,” Pique said.

“We want to control the game and play it how we know best.”

Alaves stunned Barca earlier in the season by winning 2-1 at the Camp Nou as Enrique’s heavy squad rotation backfired, although the Catalans avenged the defeat by hammering the Basques 6-0 away from home in February.

* Reuters

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