Barcelona boss Luis Enrique labelled
harsh treatment dished out to his
players by Barca fans nonsensical as the
Spanish champions squeezed past
Leganes 2-1 on Sunday.
Following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands
of Paris Saint-Germain in midweek,
Barca needed a last minute Lionel Messi
penalty to see off a Leganes side
without a win since November and on
their first ever league visit to the Camp
Nou.
Messi had given Barca a fourth minute
lead, but jeers rang around the Camp
Nou when Unai Lopez levelled 19
minutes from time.
“As a fan, booing a player of your own
team for me makes no sense,” said
Enrique.
Much-criticised midfielder Andre Gomes
received the brunt of the boos as he was
replaced 10 minutes from the end.
“What can clearly help the team and the
players is the support that we saw from
the majority of the fans throughout the
game and especially in the final
minutes,” added Enrique.
“That is what makes us stronger.
Andre’s case annoys me.”
However, the Barca boss said he had no
such problem with criticism directed his
way.
“I am the coach and after the result and
performance we saw in Paris it is
logical.
“I accept any criticism, but those on the
pitch need to be in the best state
possible.
“The games are difficult enough as they
are. If you add this on top of it, I don’t
think it helps.”
Victory ensured Barca moved back up to
second in the table and to within a
point of Real Madrid, who still have two
games in hand.
Barca face a much stiffer test next
weekend when they travel to Atletico
Madrid, but Enrique highlighted the
psychological importance of getting the
three points despite a poor display.
“A slip-up today would have been
almost definitive. Not in terms of points,
but on an emotional level.
“I am convinced that the team is going
to improve and immediately.”
The Spanish champions were thankful
to a series of fine saves from Marc-
Andre ter Stegen as he was
unexpectedly busy to keep Leganes at
bay.
“It has been a difficult week for
everyone without a doubt,” said the
German.
“The most important thing is that we
were able to win today. That will give
us a bit of confidence, which we need
for the weeks ahead.”
And Ter Stegen echoed his coach’s call
for a show of unity from the Barcelona
faithful.
“Everyone that is on the field tried their
best and I think the most important
thing is to support us at times like we
have had this week with the 4-0 defeat
in Paris,” he added.
“We need the fans, above all at home, to
support us.
“We can win or lose together, but the
most important thing is that we are
united.”
