Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola says that he is confident that new manager Luis Enrique will be able to emulate his achievements at the Camp Nou. Guardiola remains as one of the most successful Barcelona managers, and indeed across the world, in the last five years. The former Barcelona captain lifted several titles including two Champions League trophies with the Catalan club before joining Bayern Munich last summer. Since his departure, though, Barcelona have not done well in major competitions.

After winning the league title in Tito Vilanova’s first season at the club, Barcelona went on to lose the stranglehold on the title under Gerardo Martino last season. The club also lost its famed Champions League record where they have qualified for the semifinals consecutively for more than five years. The club quickly acted and sacked Martino from his role. They have brought in Enrique in a move that looks very similar to the way they appointed Guardiola in 2008. Enrique is also a former Barcelona captain, but he has suffered in poor spells at the likes of Roma.

Guardiola, however, says that Enrique is one of the top managers in world football and he will be able to prove that at Barcelona. The Catalan club have backed him heavily in the transfer window by spending more than £ 100 million.

“Of course he can match me at Barcelona, I think very highly of him. He will do a better job than I did. It is important for Barcelona to have its own identity again, a philosophy that we all recognise. I think we will see just that under Luis Enrique,” said Guardiola. Enrique was managing the Barcelona B team when Guardiola was in charge of the first-team. Even then, it was widely speculated that Enrique would one day replace Guardiola as the first team boss.