Barcelona coach Luis Enrique unsure to start Pedro against Athletic Bilbao

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique has declined to confirm if Manchester United target Pedro will start at the club’s Spanish Super Cup first leg away against Athletic Bilbao on Friday. Pedro scored the game winning goal in Barca’s thrilling 5-4 win against Sevilla on Tuesday in the European Super Cup, but the Spanish international expressed frustration for not starting on the game.

Enrique is yet to decide whether he will star Pedro for the team’s match at San Mames, The Guardian reported. The 45-year-old Enrique said nobody knows if the Spanish forward will start on Friday’s game, adding that he will not make any decisions influenced by the transfer market.

Pedro has drawn interest from Manchester City, but the Barca forward has been heavily linked to a move at Old Trafford. However, Pedro’s exit from Camp Nou was temporarily delayed because of Neymar’s absence due to mumps. Despite the rumours, Pedro kept his focus in helping Barcelona win the European Super Cup, although the 28-year-old Spaniard confirmed he was angry for coming off the bench against Sevilla.

Enrique, however, revealed that Pedro did not start in Tbilisi because he had to stop training due to an injury, and it was an unusual and difficult situation for him. The Spanish manager also added that he will continue to field players who he thinks are the best for each match.

“What I am looking forward to though is the end of the transfer window so that everything will then be clear,” Enrique added.

Meanwhile, United boss Louis Van Gaal admitted that Pedro has the qualities the Red Devils need after the club showed a strong interest in landing the Barcelona winger. United has been looking to strengthen its forward line after selling Argentine international Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain.

"It is a process. When he has signed I come to you and say: 'Hey, Pedro is here.' That is not the case and we shall wait and see,” Van Gaal said, reports ESPN FC.

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