Marquinhos' Stark Message on Commitment Under Luis Enrique

Marquinhos has delivered a stark message to his teammates: under Luis Enrique, anything less than total commitment will not be tolerated.

On the eve of their continental campaign, the Brazilian centre-back underlined just how ruthless the Spanish coach can be with his selections and standards in training.

"He's not just making tough decisions this season. He has his own way of managing. The group has to give 100% in training to earn their place. That's what he demands," Marquinhos said, spelling out the reality in the dressing room.

For players on the fringes, there is no hiding place.

"It's up to the players to push themselves to the limit every day. Everyone has to work to earn their place in the group. Sometimes players are left out of the squad. That hurts, but everyone understands. That's football, that's how it is," he added. "He's done a very good job managing so far, it's worked. He has his philosophy and he's not afraid to make tough decisions when necessary."

Those tough calls are backed up by a track record that carries real weight in Europe. Luis Enrique holds an outstanding 63 per cent win rate in the Champions League, the best of any manager to have taken charge of at least 50 games in the competition.

That pedigree explains why he refuses to let standards slip, even with Slovakian opposition arriving for what some might see as a gentle introduction to the tournament.

"This is the toughest competition. How many teams can win? Six, eight, five. The difference is very small," Enrique warned. "We're aiming for a very good start. We're going to play a seemingly easy match, but there are no easy matches. We have to stay focused."

The message is clear: reputations count for nothing if the work on the training ground does not match the manager’s demands.