Luis Enrique very satisfied with performance

Luis Enrique was very happy with the team/ PHOTO: MIGUEL RUIZ - FCB
Luis Enrique was “very satisfied” with the win and explained the difficulties in opening the scoring

Bartomeu: Messi plays for the team

FC Barcelona President, Josep Maria Bartomeu was full of praise for Leo Messi after the game: “He’s not interested in stats or personal records, he plays for the team”. Looking forward to Wednesday’s Cup tie, the President warned: “Atlético are a great team and it will be a very tough game. We have to go out for a win and not try and sit on our lead from the first leg”.

[[DES_1]]Not surprisingly perhaps, Luis Enrique expressed himself “very satisfied” with Barça’s 0-6 win at Elche – their biggest away win of the season: “these games are always hard to get going, but after the first goal we broke free and took control”.

The boss explained: “in the opening minutes your opponents are still fresh and they are defending close to their own area, so it’s normal that it’s hard to break them down.  You try and play at your best and we were confident in our abilities and were able to create plenty of chances”.

Messi and Neymar were clearly the stars of the show, with two goals and two assists each and Luis Enrique was quick to praise them: “Neymar played at a very high level  – as did the whole of the team. With Messi playing in his position between the central defenders and coming deep to pick up the ball it’s important that the players out wide balance their movements and use the space well”.