Luis Enrique has led Barcelona to an impeccable start in La Liga. Their perfect record after three matches has not only taken the Catalans to the very top of the league table, but also a valuable six points ahead of rivals Real Madrid -- who seem to be going through their fair share of self-inflicted problems at the moment.
While there is obviously still plenty of football to be played before the end of the season, nobody in Barcelona is complaining about having the biggest lead over the Merengues in more than three decades at this very early stage. Back in 1985, Terry Venables' Barca managed to build on the advantage obtained during the first few matches to bring the domestic league trophy to the Camp Nou museum. There will be hope that a similarly encouraging start is as successful this time around.
Judging by what we have witnessed so far, it would be fair to think that Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are likely to go all the way and challenge for the title once again. While their team will never be as glamorous as their mega-rich neighbours, the fighting spirit and winning attitude that their Argentinean leader manages to transmit on a daily basis is enough to carry them forward, to be able to reach higher than their budget would suggest. A true example of how hard work ultimately pays off when you have an inspirational leader who constantly gives his all and leads by example.
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- Roden: Enrique under no illusions
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Fortunately, Cules are already observing many similarities between the paths of Simeone and Enrique. They both became legends at their respective clubs during their playing careers, eventually became captains thanks to their unquestionable leadership skills, learned their managing trade at relatively minor teams and made returns that delighted supporters from the very beginning.
Hearing the hugely demanding Camp Nou crowd chanting the Asturian manager's name after just three official matches may sound strange to most as the undeniable truth is that nothing important has been won yet.
Barcelona have secured nine out of nine possible points, scored six goals and are yet to concede. Lionel Messi is slowly but surely returning to the form that enabled him to walk away with four prestigious Ballon d'Or awards and, more importantly, lead his club to 20 major trophies including three Champions Leagues and five Ligas. La Pulga's increased determination to contribute to the growth of teammates such as the electric Neymar or emerging youngster Munir El Haddadi can only bring further success at both the individual and collective level.
Having said that, the main difference between the current Barca and the disappointing team that failed to win any silverware last season is their defensive attitude. The club will be thankful that Gerardo Martino's relaxed approach to training and inability to sufficiently motivate his players is now part of a distant past. Under Enrique, the Blaugranas are defending as a unit once again, with players such as Neymar or even Messi himself making a decisive effort to track back when needed.
True to his word, Enrique is choosing to field only players who earn their place in training, those who take their footballing careers as seriously as is expected at professional level. While many may interpret the very limited playing time that Gerard Pique or Neymar has been granted so far as a coincidence, I am convinced that this is a very well-thought strategy -- as I believe is Munir's inclusion in the starting XI -- from a coach who knows they are both still far from their best, a motivational tactic that will be beneficial for the team in the long run.
At this moment in time, nobody knows whether Luis Enrique's first season in charge of the Catalan giants will be a success or not. However, the growing number of steps taken in the right direction is already reviving a fan base that is desperate to make a glorious return to the top of world football after a year to forget.