Luis Enrique: "We will not take it easy against Villarreal, we want to make the final"

Luis Enrique: "We will not take it easy against Villarreal, we want to make the final"

Luis Enrique promised that Barcelona will not relax against Villarreal in Wednesday night's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg, even though they go into the match with a 3-1 lead from the first leg. 

"We have seen that Villarreal are capable of doing damage," Barça's boss acknowledged on Tuesday.

"But we are also a dangerous team and we will not take it easy. We are desperate to make sure we make it to a final. If we win [the game], then there is no possibility of a surprise."

Conscious that "scoring will be important" as it will mean Villarreal will have to score four times to knock Barça out, Luis Enrique insisted that his side will play with their usual style. 

"We won't speculate, we will be as serious as possible," he continued. 

"We want to have the ball, we need it so that we can be organised and defend well. We will press when we lose it, that is what defines this team." 

On Wednesday's rival, Luis Enrique expects Villarreal to play differently to how they have done in this season's previous three meetings. 

"They need to score goal and will have to attack, but their style will become more clear when the game starts," Lucho added. 

YELLOW CARDS

Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano will miss a potential final if they are booked at El Madrigal. Luis Enrique admitted it may change the way those two play, but didn't suggest it will mean either are rested

In general, in fact, the Asturian was very optimistic. 

"We go into the game in the best possible condition, with the chance to play with intensity and find different solutions," he said. 

On Neymar's recent form, Luis Enrique pointed out that the Brazilian is still bringing a lot to the side, even if he hasn't been as prolific in the past few weeks. 

True to his style, he wouldn't comment on Dani Alves and Suarez's anger at being taken off in recent matches. 

"When I was a player, I did not want to play every game," he opined.