Luis Enrique: 'The time is right to leave Barcelona'

Luis Enrique has insisted that he is 'full of joy' after ending his three-year spell as Barcelona manager with a ninth major honour.

The 47-year-old announced earlier this year that he intended to bow out come the end of the season, citing fatigue as his main reason why.

Barca disappointed in La Liga and the Champions League this term, losing out to rivals Real Madrid domestically and exiting the European stage in the quarter-finals at the hands of Juventus.

Enrique was given reason to smile on his final farewell, though, as his men came out on top 3-1 against Alaves at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday night to lift their third successive Copa del Rey.

Asked if he was upset to be leaving, Enrique told reporters: "No sadness at all, total joy. Actually, it has been me who has decided that it is better to stop. It will be wonderful for me and I think for the players and the team too.

"The intensity of this job and the way I do it, with maximum thoroughness every day implies fatigue. But there is no sorrow, it is the opposite.

"If someone had told me when I got here that I would have the chance to help the team and be a part of nine titles out of 13 that we have played... well the figures are really good.

"Of course we would have liked of course to win the league again and be fighting for the Champions League. It could not be, but I think the fans have noticed the effort of the players and their sacrifice throughout the whole season."

Enrique won a domestic and European treble in his first season at the Camp Nou helm and the double in his second, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup.