Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says he is not worried that his currently in-form side might run out of gas by the end of the season -- while saying that he is in favour of strengthening his squad in January.
The 4-0 win in last Saturday's La Liga Clasico at Real Madrid, followed by Tuesday's 6-1 dismantling of Roma in the Champions League, have shown Barca to be in top form -- helped also by the return to fitness of talisman Lionel Messi.
However, there are concerns that injuries and suspensions have meant some of Barca's key players have been overworked through the autumn, while the example of Madrid's record-breaking autumn 2014 followed by disappointing early 2015 has also been mentioned by local pundits.
Speaking at his news conference ahead of Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash with Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou, the Blaugrana coach denied he was "afraid" his side had peaked too early, while saying he'd like to add more than just the soon to be available Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal to his squad in the next transfer window.
"I am not afraid of that, not at all," Luis Enrique said. "We are getting players back fit now, and will have some more [Vidal and Arda] in January. When the window comes we will see what the situation is. I am also in favour of strengthening and improving the team. The idea is to be ready for when the trophies are won at the end of the season."
Messi's first start in two months against Roma brought two goals and an assist in a fine 90-minute display, and Luis Enrique said he expected the Argentine to be even more dangerous as he returned to full match fitness.
"Leo is not yet at 100 percent, he needs to get more match fitness," he said. "He needs playing time to get into best condition possible. But he does not need to be at 100 percent to make the difference."
Asked whether Barca's attacking trio of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez could be on the 2015 Ballon d'Or podium to be announced next Monday, Luis Enrique said it was possible -- while reminding reporters that forwards picked up the credit but the whole team supported their exploits.
"I would not rule it out, but I am not the one who votes and decides it," he said. "But that [the trio] are among the best in the world, there is no doubt. We have three unique, incredible attackers. They can do unbelievable moves, individual plays, but they need the support of the team."
Luis Enrique said that Messi's decision to hand the ball to Neymar to take a penalty against Roma, even though he was on a hat trick, showed an admirable lack of focus on individual glory.
"That makes him even greater, that he is little interested in individual prizes, just focused on club honours," he said. "As Barca win trophies, the players benefit from that. It is a mechanism that feeds itself. That is the mentality that the best players in the world must have."
A win against La Real would see Barca stretch their La Liga lead to seven points, at least until second-placed Atletico Madrid face Espanyol at home later on Saturday afternoon.
Luis Enrique was reminded that the Basque side had caused Barca problems over recent seasons -- including a 1-0 win with David Moyes as coach last January, and also now have former Barca B coach Eusebio in charge as Moyes' successor.
"With Eusebio they will have a plan," he said. "He knows our play for sure, although many coaches know perfectly how Barca play. The have a plan, but then Messi gets the ball, dribbles past three players... that happened to me two years ago [when Luis Enrique was Celta Vigo coach]."
In team news, fit-again Javier Mascherano is likely to return to the squad after missing the Roma game with a hamstring injury, while Sergi Roberto's own thigh strain means the versatile youngster is ruled out of Saturday's game.