An open letter to Luis Enrique from a Barcelona fan

Luis Enrique is under enormous pressure as the new coach of the Catalan club

Dear Luis,

It is with great hope we welcome you back to Barcelona. These are testing times for our club with our golden generation slowly fading and the team in the midst of a major overhaul. Last season we ended trophyless - a first after many seasons and for an ambitious club like ours, it does not make for good reading. We are in need of a true Captain who can steady the ship and bring us back to our glory days. And in you Mister, we have placed all our hopes. I sincerely hope you will not let us down.

Despite your spell (as a player) at Real Madrid, we would like to believe that you are one of our own. You have, as a player, been a part of successful Barcelona teams and identify with our way of playing. Unlike other clubs, we require one of our own sons to lead us because we adhere to our rich philosophy which has brought us immense success over the past decade. You are not completely new to the managerial position either, having led the Barcelona B team for three years.

Your qualities as a manager were never in doubt, especially among us, having led our B team to their best-ever finish in the 2009/10 season. We know you are a hard-working coach who leaves no page unturned and expects the same from the players. Your spell at Roma may have been unsuccessful but not everybody can fully understand your vision and your methods.

Given the right players, you have shown that you can achieve fantastic results while playing an attractive brand of football. It was evident from Celta Vigo’s impressive season last year. We just hope you can handle the pressure of taking charge of one of the most demanding clubs in the World.

Much has been said about the one-dimensional nature of our play. It has been a major problem for us in the past few seasons. Martino tried to fix that but in the process he made the team lose its identity. A proper synchronization of styles is a desparate need at our club. We want an alternative way of playing but without losing our core values. We are not in need of a revolution but an evolution in our style.

Our defence too needs some major reinforcements which has been the case for quite a while now. The impending signature of Mathieu from Valencia is a step in the right direction but we also need a world-class centre-back in the mould of Mats Hummels or Thiago Silva to lead our defensive line. A marquee signing in the centre-back position would go a long way in relieving our anxiety.

The attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez is an exciting prospect heading into the new season. However, making the three of them play together is going to be a major task for you. As was evident last season, Neymar and Messi could not play their best while playing together. It was no coincidence that Neymar’s best spell came when Messi was out injured.

Messi is another major source of concern. Despite his exploits in front of goal, it looked like the injuries were starting to take a toll on Messi and he looked jaded. It was also quite concerning for us as he went missing in some crucial matches when we needed his magic to see us through. It is going to be crucial that you take care of our famed forward line and turn them into a potent attacking force.

Luis Enrique during his time as the Barcelona B manager

Like one of your illustrious predecessors Pep Guardiola, you too have come up the ranks after having taken charge of our B team. It is also well known that you are always open to giving the youngsters a chance to shine. The fact that inspite of signing Ter Stegen and Claudio Bravo, you have said that Barcelona B team goalkeeper Jordi Masip has as much a chance of playing speaks volumes of your readiness to give the youth a chance.

We have an exciting line of youngsters in Gerard Deulofeu, Jean Marie Dongou, Rafinha and Alen Halilovic, waiting to step up to the limelight. It is my sincere hope that you make the best use of them and make sure that we do not have witness another Thiago-like incident.

Barcelona’s image has taken some beating over the past few seasons. The Neymar transfer saga and the resulting transfer ban (removed now) have seen Barcelona be in the news for all the wrong reasons. And to top it, we have signed Suarez. He may be one of the World’s best players but he has penchant for courting controversy. You can take a leaf from Brendan Rodger’s book and handle him with the special care he needs.

There have also been some accusations that we have treated stalwarts like Abidal with disrespect. What has been done cannot be undone but we can learn from such mistakes. We expect you to treat Xavi’s case with special care. He has rightly earned his elevated status at our club and although he may not be the Xavi of old, his decision, whatever it may be, should be treated with respect. Even if he cannot play week in week out, the youngsters could learn a lot from playing alongside a legend like him.

Losing the League title to Atletico at Camp Nou and then seeing Real Madrid lift La Decima was a cruel sight for all of us. A season which promised much ended with us being empty-handed. We simply cannot have another season like that. I know that we are putting you under enormous pressure but you must have been well aware of it before taking up the job. You were magnificent as a player for our club and you know what it feels like to play for the scarlet and blue of the Blaugrana.

We are sure that you will be a success for us. There might be bumps on the road but do not worry, we will help smoothen the journey for you. As we head into the new season, we wish you have a great time leading our beloved club and we hope to see you at the end of the season celebrating our team’s success. For Barcelona, as is rightly said, are more than a club. Visca el Barca!