5 Ways Luis Enrique Has Gone from 'Crisis' to Record Barcelona Manager

Luis Enrique and Barcelona have enjoyed a stunning 2015.

Since their loss to Real Sociedad at the turn of the new year, the Catalans have taken almost all before them.

It wasn't so long ago when supporters of the Blaugrana were calling for Lucho's head.

Now those same fickle fans are basking in the afterglow that 20 wins out of 22 games, per WhoScored, brings.

A crisis at Christmas has been turned around to the extent that Enrique is now the most successful Barcelona manager in his first 50 games, with 42 wins. Even surpassing Pep Guardiola.

Let's take a look at five ways he has done so.

Less Rotations

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Less rotations, more freshness.

Once Barca had succumbed to Real Sociedad, media channels jumped all over the rotations that Luis Enrique had insisted on to that point.

A different starting XI in 29 successive games was pinpointed as the reason why the Catalans weren't somehow performing as they should.

The suggestion was incorrect, of course, as Enrique hadn't done as poorly as many had suggested.

Yet stories of behind-the-scenes struggles with Lionel Messi and others gave rise to the notion that the manager didn't have the same iron grip on his squad as, say, Pep Guardiola had.

In any event, the rotations were swiftly dispensed with, and Barca have reaped the rewards of having a more settled side.

Strength of Character

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Luis Enrique has shown tremendous strength of character.

Lucho was always known as a man with incredible strength of character.

He showed that in spades when he made the move from Real Madrid to Barca and again as captain of the Blaugrana.

With a team full of so many egos, management of the same has been Enrique's forte.

No one is treated any differently. Like it or not, Lucho is the boss, and he has stamped his authority all over this side.

Neymar recently found out to his cost that gestures of disrespect will get him absolutely nowhere with this man in charge.

Plan B Found

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Has Lucho struck gold?

It's been a long time coming. 

There has been a perennial struggle for Barca managers to deliver a different, but equally successful, way of playing other than "tiki-taka."

In the second half of this season in particular, we have seen a real change up in styles from Enrique.

While the departure from the short, sharp passing game can often be minimal, Enrique isn't frightened to play teams on the counter-attack if the situation requires it. Having the staff available to execute the same helps, of course.

Barca will still hunt teams down, as we saw against Paris Saint-Germain in both legs, but where Enrique differs from his predecessors is he is completely comfortable to sit back and invite pressure, knowing he has the players available to turn defence into attack in an instant.

The style of the team has become much more vertical as a result, with Ivan Rakitic in particular integral to this way of playing. 

Greater Freedom and Trust of Players

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Barca are playing with expression.

Lucho's trust of his players evidently extends to allowing them to play with freedom and expression.

The same is probably most noticeable among the front three with each of Messi, Suarez and Neymar looking entirely at home in their roles.

It's to Enrique's credit that he has moulded the three together, a task that many thought impossible, including Johan Cruyff.

In his De Telegraaf column, via Marca, Cruyff noted:

"

I can't see how Barca intends to continue playing the same way, with a keen focus on team play if Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are in the side. The three of them are too individual.

In signing him (Suarez), the club are showing a preference for individual genius over a team that plays great football.

"

It's not often Cruyff is wrong.

Intensity

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

No matter the opposition, Enrique wants the same application.

Something that has been particularly noticeable since the turn of the year is the intensity that Barca are bringing to each and every game, no matter the quality of opposition.

It was something that the Catalans had lost under Tata Martino and probably spilled over into the beginning of this campaign.

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague noted during Martino's tenure: "There is a lack of leadership on the bench, on the pitch and at the club, so they are trying to find their feet, and what we are seeing is a team that is far too relaxed—they are a side without intensity and with few demands tactically and physically."

Perhaps Enrique's greatest achievement is to continuously challenge an elite group of players to give their absolute best at all times.