Barcelona boss Luis Enrique launched a staunch defense of his players after they came from behind without the injured Lionel Messi to beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday.
Goals in the final 10 minutes from Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez propelled the European champions to the top of Champions League Group F after Kyriakos Papadopoulos had headed the visitors into a deserved halftime lead.
“It was a difficult night. It was our second game without Leo Messi, the second game without our best player, an irreplaceable player, and it is the second game the team has won,” Enrique said. “I am very happy for what the players have achieved. They turned around a very difficult game. We can be more precise, but no one can say Barca relax and don’t give everything.”
Photo: AFP
Despite Messi’s absence, the Camp Nou crowd were less than patient as boos rang out at the halftime whistle.
Enrique pleaded for more understanding from the club’s supporters at a difficult time, with a host of young players drafted in to cover a mounting injury crisis.
“I think this team deserve more credit for what they have won recently and how they carry themselves,” Enrique said. “They try until the last minute and if then they deserve to be booed then fine, but we are much stronger in the delicate moments if they support us.”
“At 2-1 we didn’t need their support, we needed it a 0-1,” he said. “I would like the few people that do boo not to do it, because we hear them and we need the support of everyone.”
On top of Messi and Brazil international Rafinha, Barca are to be without Andres Iniesta for a month after he pulled up with a hamstring injury after an hour.
“It is very sad news for us because he is a fundamental player for us as everyone knows,” Enrique said. “These are hurdles in our way that we have to overcome and I have confidence in the players that will come in.”
A hectic pre-season tour and three early season clashes with Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA and Supercopa de Espana respectively have been blamed for Barca’s raft of injuries.
However, defender Javier Mascherano called on those like Roberto and Munir el-Haddadi, who made a significant impact from the bench against Leverkusen, to take their chance in the first team.
“Obviously we are in a difficult situation with a number of important players that are injured,” Mascherano said. “That is football and that is why we have a squad to keep going in these moments.”
“It is not just 11 or 12 players that win competitions, there are reserves behind and now some of those that wouldn’t have had so many minutes will get their chance,” he said. “It is an unusual season. You always have these injuries throughout the season, but after the more serious injuries for Rafinha and Leo is it much more worrying that Andres is now injured too.”
“Those of us that are fit need to keep going and know that while we win games there is less time left until those important players return,” he added.
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