Barca eye more history after 2nd Euro treble
AFP
AFP, BERLIN: Luis Enrique says Barcelona aim to become the first team to defend the Champions League title as the head coach considers his future despite steering them to an historic treble.
Luis Suarez and Neymar scored second-half goals to give Barcelona a 3-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus on Saturday as the Spaniards became the first team to twice win the European treble.
Enrique capped his first season as Barcelonas head coach by matching Pep Guardiolas feat from the 2008/09 season when the Catalans captured the European, Spanish league and cup titles.
An early goal by Barcas Ivan Rakitic was cancelled out when Juventus ex-Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata equalised on 55 minutes.
Barcelona have now won five European titles, four of which came in the last decade after their 2006, 2009 and 2011 triumphs.
Enrique says their hunger for silverware is insatiable and they want to make more history by becoming the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles.
This is our 60th match (this season) with six defeats and four draws, said the 45-year-old.
Those figures show that this has been one of Barcelonas best campaigns.
In the last ten years, this has been the most successful club in Europe.
These players have shown hunger for victories and theyve shown they enjoy it so much, we have to nourish them with more titles.
I want to celebrate the win, but the time will come when decisions must be made, said Enrique.
Juventus suffered the unwanted fate of becoming the first team to lose six European Cup finals, 30 years after winning the trophy
for the first time which was
overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium disaster.
On the streets of Barcelona, where you could have heard a pin drop during the final, thousands of ecstatic fans dressed in their team colours of blue and red celebrated with cheers, chants and fire crackers.
For Suarez it was a triumphant end to a first season with the Spanish champions after his ignominious biting ban at the World Cup.
Its incredible, its something unique, he said.
The best thing about this side is the spirit and the fact weve been united since the start of the season.
In 2009 Barcelona joined the elite club of treble winners that include Celtic, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Now, they are the first to have done that twice.
Neymar fed Iniesta from the left wing and the Spain international squared for Rakitic to drill home from close range, past Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon.
Juve got the equaliser they had threatened when defender Stephan Lichtsteiners cross found Carlos Tevez, whose shot was parried by Barca goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, only for Morata to rifle home the loose ball on 55 minutes.
It was his first goal against Barcelona despite four years at the Bernabeu having left Madrid last year.
The goal breathed life back into Juves ambitions, but it was a touch of Messi magic which led to the decisive goal.
The Argentina international attacked the Juve defence with a mazy run and although Buffon blocked his shot, Suarez fired home the rebound on 68 minutes.
Unfortunately when you play against great players, you think you have things under control, then they can turn the game, as happen tonight, said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Were sorry to have missed our chance, but I cant criticise the team.
Xavi came on for his final game in the Barca shirt in the dying stages as he made history with a record 151st Champions League appearance before joining Qatari side Al Sadd next season.
The scene was set for Neymar to cap his first Champions League final with Barcelonas third just before the final whistle.
Juventus hailed the achievement of Allegri in getting the team to the final during his first season in charge, and beating 2014 winners Real Madrid in the semis.
