Luis Enrique felt Barcelona brought the supporters back on their side following Thursday’s 5-0 victory over Elche in the Copa del Rey.
La Blaugrana dominated the Valencians at Camp Nou, effectively securing their passage into the quarter-finals of the cup competition, and the Coach was keen to see his side retain the trust of their fans after recent times of turbulence.
“I think the fans trust us. I don’t know if I’m naive or listen to journalists too much, but I walk down the street and see optimism,” he said after the game.
“The attitude of the players seems positive. I don’t think [the fans] see any apathy or a lack of commitment and ambition.
“The only reflection I’ll make is what interests me, assessing positively any support from the fans to the players, which is a basic requirement for the team to succeed, and I’m delighted. I love seeing my players cheered on.
“[Regarding Messi] I won’t feed the doom and gloom or controversy.
“Knowing how much [the presidency] means, it may raise some doubts, but it’s a generous gesture from the president and a good decision if the tensions can be lowered.
“It’d be fantastic, but we can’t control these things, so we must face them.
“We were very intense and quick [against Elche], with people getting to the box.
“We were very attentive and I don’t think we gave a sniff to our opponents. We showed a commendable attitude and enjoyed great success.”
