Barcelona manager Luis Enrique lavishes praise on Manchester United

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique believes that Manchester United have the base to win the treble this season following their 3-1 win over the Catalans on Saturday.

The Red Devils rode on the back of goals from Jesse Lingard, Wayne Rooney and Adnan Januzaj to secure their first major win of pre-season, laying a base for the start of their Premier League campaign against Tottenham on 8 August.

Enrique was without a host of players in his starting 11, with Lionel Messi and Neymar not back in training following the Copa America Cup, which ended on 4 July. However, the Spaniard, who won the treble with Barcelona last season, insists that United's troubles in recent seasons should not take away anything from the squad they possess and this win can be a stepping stone for more to come in the future.

"With a coach like Van Gaal and the kind of players they have, it is a team that are going for everything," Enrique said after the game, as quoted by Goal.

"In a year a lot of things can happen. We came off the back of a season without a trophy and we won the treble. United could do the same, it's a great club."

The manager was however critical of the pitch, which was dry and made it hard for both teams to keep the ball on the ground. Barcelona hit the post thrice but Enrique put this down to them being profligate in front of goal than United riding their luck.

"It was a shame that that the pitch was so dry. It hurt both teams. Hitting the post is part of the game. Today we have not been as clinical as usual. Aside from hitting the post, we created plenty of chances," he continued.

Meanwhile, United target Pedro, who has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford by the Daily Mail, started the game in front of a sell-out crowd.