Barcelona like Disneyland

The 44-year-old says it's been a "brilliant year" for him and that being in charge at Camp Nou is like "heaven"

 Luis Enrique compared Barcelona to Disneyland as he gave a glowing assessment of his 2014 ahead of the club's final game of the year on Saturday.

 The coach was brought on board by the Catalans in the summer after Gerardo Martino stepped aside with the club having only the Supercopa to show for their efforts in 2013-14.

 Luis Enrique spent eight years at Camp Nou as a player then coached their B team for three years until 2011, when he left for an ill-fated spell with Roma.

 Having guided Celta to ninth in La Liga in his one and only season with the club, before returning to Barca, the coach is delighted with how the calendar year has panned out.

 "It's been a brilliant year for me," he told reporters. "First with Celta then back home, with Barcelona, which is heaven. It's like Disneyland.

" After missing last weekend's goalless draw with Getafe, the coach also confirmed Neymar - who has scored 11 goals in 13 Liga games this season - is back in contention for Saturday's clash with Cordoba.

 "Neymar trained today with the team so that means he's available and, if he's called for the match, then he can play," Luis Enrique added.

 "If he wants to play during the winter break he has to ask for permission from the club and I don't have any information that he's going to play in a friendly match during the holiday period.

" Barca trail La Liga table-toppers Real Madrid by four points after 15 games, with reigning Atletico Madrid in third place three points behind them.

Barcelona Chasing TWO ‘New Neymars’…

Barcelona are looking to keep up their record of securing the finest South American talent… Spanish newspaper Sport has revealed the two Brazilian stars that Barcelona are keeping a close eye on. The first is Gabriel Barbosa, known as “Gabigol”. As part of the monster Neymar deal, Barcelona were given ‘right of refusal’ on Barbosa, along with fellow Santos players Giva and Victor Andrade. While the latter two have disappointed, Gabigol has had a breakthrough season this year. Gabriel is explosively fast, and can play anywhere in the attacking line. He picked up an impressive eight goals and five assists in his 28 starts in the Brasilaerao this year. With European teams including their arch-rivals Real Madrid looking certain to test Santos’ nerve with bids this summer, Barca have sent scouts to watch their prospect, to ascertain just how much they are willing to pay to secure his services.

Neymar in contention for Barcelona vs. Cordoba after ankle injury

Neymar is set to return to the Barcelona lineup for Saturday's La Liga game at home to Cordoba, Blaugrana coach Luis Enrique has revealed.

 Brazil international Neymar missed both last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Getafe and Wednesday's 8-1 Copa del Rey win over third-tier Huesca with a minor ankle injury, but returned to full training on Friday morning.

 The Barca coach told a news conference after that session that the left-sided member of Barca's big-name South American front three was available for selection again.

 "Today Neymar has trained with the team," Luis Enrique said. "He is available to me. Tomorrow we will decide if he starts."

How Córdoba won the league for Real

Córdoba's honorary president, Rafael Campanero, revealed that Real Madrid gave each Córdoba player 100,000 pesetas for having beaten Barcelona 1-0 in the second-to-last game of the 1971-72 season, thereby handing the league title over to Real Madrid. It looked like winning the league would be a pushover for Barça. All they had to do was beat Córdoba CF, floundering at the bottom of the league table, and hope that Real would lose in the Calderón – which is exactly what 'Los Blancos' went and did. But the Catalans' trip to Andalusia proved to be a nightmare. The match referee, Pascual Tejerina, failed to see three clear penalties in Cordoba's box. However, during the home team's only assault on the Barça goal, Manolín Cuesta dived at Rifé's feet in the area and the ref blew his whistle, pointing to the spot. The ball was blasted home, Barcelona lost 1-0 and Real Madrid won the league because of it. Pepe Escalante, who was Córdoba's captain that season, remembers how, apart from the 100,000 pesetas paid to each player by Real, "we were also paid 4,000 pesetas by Córdoba, which was the normal amount for winning a game" back then. Córdoba will once again face the Catalan set-up in the Camp Nou this Saturday, 42 years later.

Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Marco Reus

As Barcelona continue to wait on the verdict of their appeal of FIFA's impending transfer embargo, reports and rumours continue to swirl. The Blaugrana don't even know whether they'll be able to sign new players in two weeks, so they need to prepare for every possible scenario. Manager Luis Enrique has a strong—but flawed—squad at his disposal, with a number of defensive question marks persisting. Addressing those concerns in January would be the perfect scenario, but if the transfer ban holds, it's possible the Catalans could actually lose defensive depth. Here are the latest reports coming out of the Camp Nou. Marco Reus Advised to Pick Real Madrid Former Real Madrid star and Germany international Christoph Metzelder has urged compatriot and star forward Marco Reus to spurn Barcelona in favour of a move to Los Blancos in an interview with Bild (h/t Football Espana). The 25-year-old is widely expected to leave Borussia Dortmund at some point in 2015, and Metzelder believes the Spanish capital should be his preferred destination: If Reus has to choose between Real Madrid and Barcelona then I think Madrid would be the easiest choice. Madrid are a more global team than Barca, who signify Catalonia and are more regional, while they also prefer to rely on bringing their younger players through. It’s also true that at Madrid he wouldn’t have much room to manoeuvre because they have a lot of attacking options, but if there is one club capable of accommodating him then it’s them. Of course, one has to remember Metzelder is a former Blanco himself. The centre-back acknowledged Real currently don't have room in their squad for him before offering a solution, simultaneously dismissing other clubs like Barcelona could do the same. The image of Barcelona as a "regional club" relying almost exclusively on La Masia is an archaic one, completely nullified by the recent signings of players like Luis Suarez, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic. For all intents and purposes, the Blaugrana are just as heavily involved in the transfer market as their rivals from Madrid.

That doesn't mean Reus won't pick Los Blancos. In fact, Bleacher Report's Tim Collins is convinced that's exactly what will happen: The process appears to be underway. Real Madrid, while still likely eyeing next summer as the opportune moment, look several steps ahead of Barcelona in the race for the German. Some might even say they're winning the battle. And even though that's likely to continue until the saga is resolved, it's still a needless one. A battle drizzled in excess. But one that Real Madrid look poised to win nonetheless.

Pedro: Using three defenders is a viable option

Pedro Rodriguez found himself in a somewhat unfamiliar role, shuttling up and down the right flank and helping out in defence, during Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Paris St Germain, yet the Canary Islander impressed in Luis Enrique’s new system and believes it is a valuable tactical option for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona defeated Paris St Germain thanks to goals from their illustrious attacking triumvirate of Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

 One of the main talking points from last night’s performance was Luis Enrique’s decision to use a ‘back three’ and an expansive midfield in which Pedro impressed. The Canarian played on the right side of a stacked midfield, occupying the space often reserved for Dani Alves.

 It is an option that we have and that we can use, Luis [Enriqué] has considered it the best option for tonight and it went well,” explained Barcelona’s No. 7.

 “With the ball I had to play more open to help my teammates in attack, but above all I had to help the defence.

” Pedro stressed the importance of the victory, which ensured Barcelona finished top of their group. 

“It is important what we have done, it is what we had in mind and it gives us confidence.”

Zizou would pair Messi and Cristiano in dream team

During an interview with Canal+, Zinedine Zidane named his dream team of current players, which is an extremely attacking line-up featuring both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi… plus Karim Benzema and Zlatan Ibrahimovic!