Luis Enrique has hailed Barcelona’s “character” in coming back from behind to beat Valencia 3-2 on Saturday.
Barca went down 2-1 after a quick-fire Valencia brace in the first 15 minutes of the second half, until goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, the latter of whom struck home a last-gasp penalty, took the champions top of La Liga, albeit provisionally.
“The way we won speaks volumes about the character of this team, despite the adversities of this game, like the injury to Iniesta, which is sad news,” the Coach said after the match.
“But the character was there, the team have belief, desire to win and our objective isn’t to suffer so much.
“It was a typical Valencia-Barcelona game, with verve and chances for both teams to get the win until the final whistle.
“We’re happy, we did very well in parts of the game. We started very well with a great goal, which gave us control, and had chances to secure the result.
“In the second half, in five, crazy minutes, the game left our grip.
“We then came back from a corner, and from there we were in with a chance of winning at all times, but also losing because the will to win made us lose control in midfield and we allowed them many counterattacks.
“Iniesta? It was a piece of very clear play, in which there wasn’t a yellow card. I can’t tell if it’s a serious injury, he’ll certainly be out for weeks, but tomorrow we’ll learn the extent of the injury.
“Our best penalty-taker is Messi, even if last season there were many doubts. In front of him was Alves, who makes himself huge in the goal.
“I thought he was going to shoot down the other side, others said he’d shoot through the middle but in the end he chose the side he wanted.”
