Luis Enrique hailed his Barcelona players for ‘reinforcing themselves’ during Saturday’s 6-0 demolition of Elche in La Liga.
The Catalans defeated Los Franjiverdes for a fourth time this season to extend their winning streak to five matches in all competitions, courtesy of goals from Lionel Messi, Neymar – both of whom grabbed two each – and Pedro Rodriguez.
“I just saw a match which lasted 90 minutes and went through different phases,” the Asturian Coach told reporters.
“The state of the pitch wasn’t the best, and there is always difficulty when playing against a team like Elche.
“From the first goal, we freed ourselves and took control of the match. These games aren’t common throughout the season and are difficult to get. I’m satisfied with the team over the 90 minutes.
“Like the rest of the team, [Neymar played at] a high level.
“We can’t always go 3-0 up. This is very complex. At first your opponents are fresh, with great defensive concepts, and that means trouble.
“You try your best, but the conditions of the pitch weren’t the best. This is almost always the case.
“Almost all the pitches we play on have these conditions. The goal came quickly, but we created chances. Elche are a Primera club, capable of causing you problems.
“Our attack functions in a way we know well. Leo [Messi] can play in the middle or as a false nine.
“Depending on how we attack, we can also defend. The team have reinforced themselves in a remarkable way.
“It was a very clear statement about what this team and club are about, and what we can become in the near future.”
