Barcelona boss Luis Enrique feels Lionel Messi will stay with the club despite recent rumours he could depart the Camp Nou in the summer.
Reports in Spain over the past few weeks have suggested there has been unrest in the Barca dressing room this season, something Enrique was keen to downplay at a Press conference.
“I’m only focused on doing my job with the team this year and seeing how far we get. If Messi has said he wants to stay here for many more years then who am I to say otherwise?” he told reporters.
“I believe him. Everybody has said Leo is going to remain at Barca many years and that’s what every Cule wants.
“[President Josep Maria] Bartomeu is right in that we should ignore the problems, rumours and comments. We are looking to create the best possible atmosphere within the club because we already know on the outside things can change in five seconds.”
Barcelona play Elche in a Last 16 Copa del Rey second-leg tie on Thursday at the Martinez Valero in what should be a formality, having beaten the Franjiverdes 5-0 in the first leg at the Camp Nou.
Nonetheless, Enrique maintains his players will still be going out with the intention of winning.
“Even though the tie is practically decided we are preparing for it as we always do. We’ve been studying ways to punish the opposition as we’ll be going there to win.
“There will be quite a few B team players in the side and we’ll take advantage of the circumstances to run the rule over them.
“There won’t be too many because the rules state we can only field four in our starting XI, nor do we want to run unnecessary risks.”
