Coaches cautious over plans ahead of 'Classico'


Madrid, Oct 25 (IANS): FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was giving no clues over whether or not striker Luis Suarez would make his debut for the club in Saturday's 'Classico' away to Real Madrid.

The game coincides with the first day Suarez is able to play after completing his four month suspension for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in the World Cup finals and many consider the Santiago Bernabeu the perfect place for the Uruguayan to announce his arrival with a 'bang', reports Xinhua.

The Barca coach, however, was keeping his starting 11 a secret, saying: "I can't enter into these kinds of mind games but he will definitely play."

"How many minutes will he get? That's the million dollar question. This is a big game for him and he'll be given some playing time," explained Enrique.

The Barca coach takes his side to Madrid after an unbeaten start to the season, which has not yet seen them concede a goal. In the light of that, there is one major instruction for the game. "Just to maintain our philosophy, remember the virtues and defects of the team who will be in front of us and go out there and win."

Enrique agreed that the 6pm kick off time was not perfect and also said he had respect for Real Madrid coach, Ancelotti, although he concluded, "Any win at the Bernabeu is good enough for me."

Ancelotti meanwhile used his press conference to express his satisfaction with the team after a slow start to the season, which saw them lose games to Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad.

"Things have changed. We now understand each other well; we are able to reflect on what went wrong. Because we have worked hard, we have found balance and now we're faced with a stern test against a very competitive team."

"I'm not sure if it's the best football we have played in my time here, but I'm satisfied," added the Real Madrid coach.

The game will see strikers of the quality of Suarez, Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and perhaps Gareth Bale, but with so much attacking talent on show, Ancelotti believes it is the defences which will win or lose the match.

"There is no other game in the world with this level of quality. Defending well is critical. Enrique feels the same and it could be the key to winning," said Ancelotti, who said he was aiming to "spring a surprise," in his line up, without saying what it would be.

  

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Title: Coaches cautious over plans ahead of 'Classico'



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