<
>

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique not concerned by La Liga awards snub

Luis Enrique is nonplussed about not being named in the top three managers in La Liga last season and is much more focused on adding to the eight trophies he's already won since taking over at Barcelona.

The Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) belatedly held their annual awards ceremony in Valencia on Monday, with Diego Simeone, whose Atletico Madrid side finished third, crowned as the top boss.

Celta Vigo's Eduardo Berizzo and the now former Villarreal coach Marcelino placed behind the Argentine, with Enrique, who won the league for a second successive season with Barca, not appearing on the three-man shortlist.

Asked about the snub at a news conference following Barca's Catalan Super Cup defeat to Espanyol, he gave a somewhat ironic response.

"Am I surprised at not being among the [top] three [managers]?" he asked. "That's a good question. I suppose I'd be among the [top] 20, right?

"[The LFP] didn't even invite me -- perhaps as they know that I don't go to these type of events so they preferred not to.

"But the question [the LFP] have to worry about is how to improve Spanish football. I don't think it has much importance if you do or don't go to a party.

"These type of shows don't interest me, what I'm concerned about is that my players are winning titles at the end of the season."

Enrique was named as La Liga's top boss last year but didn't turn up to the event -- even though it was held in Barcelona. His award was collected by Blaugrana vice president Jordi Mestre instead.

The Barca coach was also pressed for his opinion on the fallout which has followed Saturday's dramatic win at Valencia and the bottle-throwing from the home supporters.

LFP president Javier Tebas is among those to have suggested the Catalan club's players provoked the situation, although Enrique insisted he's not interested in the what has or has not been said since.

"I've not heard or seen anything," he said. "It's not worth talking about these things. We'll focus on ourselves, playing football, making the fans happy and respecting our profession."