Iniesta boost ahead of El Clasico

LA LIGA: Enrique declares Barca captain available against Real

Inter Milan’s

“It’s obvious that we need to improve, that we need more consistent but I don’t see any signs to worry me too much,” Luis Enrique said.

“The team is well and we got a point at La Real. We are still favourites to win all the titles but it’s clear that we have to improve.

“We, the players and I, are aware of that and are the first to admit that. We’ve had good games but we’ve lacked consistency as the results show. But I wouldn’t exaggerate.

“Remember that in my first year

celebrates his goal with (2014-15) the press also exaggerated with our results and we went on to win the treble (La Liga, King’s Cup and the Champions League).”

Meanwhile, Gerard Pique warned that Barcelona cannot contemplate losing El Clasico on Saturday if they are to have any hope of retaining their La Liga title.

Pique attended the Catalan Federation awards gala on Monday with his wife Shakira and two sons, Milan and Sasha, where he walked away with the prize for footballer of the year.

in their Serie A match against Fiorentina on Monday.

However, the former Manchester United defender insisted that if his club want to pick up the top prize in Spanish football this year, then they must not lose this weekend’s clash at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona are six points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of the table, and the 29-year-old believes this match is pivotal to the Catalans' league aspirations.

“It is more important for us than them,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

“Because if they won, they would go nine points clear and it would be difficult.”

Barcelona are in the midst of a mini-crisis by their own standards, following a 1-1 draw away at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

It was the eighth visit in a row to the Anoeta Stadium that the Catalans returned without victory, but their central defender insists that three points against their arch rivals on Saturday will turn the mood in the camp.

“Sunday was not a great day,” admitted Pique.

“Things did not go quite right. It was a point that is now not so bad.

“After showering and reflecting, I think if we win on Saturday things will be different.” Agencies