Lucho: Eight strikers vs Juve!

Luis Enrique says Barcelona “will go at Juventus with eight strikers”, Andre Gomes boos are “pathetic” and that “we’ve got used to eating beluga caviar”.

Barca ended a run of back-to-back defeats with a 3-2 win against Real Sociedad on Saturday, prompting Enrique to look to the Catalans’ task of a second ‘remontada’ in the Champions League with confidence.

“I’m more than satisfied with my players,” the Coach said after the game.

“They showed an impeccable attitude on the pitch and were prepared to fight against a very difficult team.

“You didn’t need to be Einstein to know that we were going to suffer. We were able to manage the frustration of conceding two goals very well.

“We’re now in that phase when teams are hurting us with very little and that ultimately has repercussions for our confidence.

“We’re still alive on all fronts and this win strengthens us. It’s a good place to start the comeback [against Juve].

“Surely at some point in the game, we’ll be close to the comeback. We’re going to risk so much that we could even go at them with eight strikers, seeing as we have nothing to lose.

“The fans must have faith in these players, who have won everything. We’re a team of champions.

“What’s happened is that we’ve got used to always eating beluga caviar. That can’t always be maintained.

“We need to improve if we want to pull off the comeback, but we’ll give everything.

“Alcacer? Now the fans are applauding him, but at first there were murmurs of discontent.

“What’s changed? Now he’s playing with confidence. Players don’t need more doubts.

“Gomes? Laudrup was whistled in his first year, so was Koeman. Now it’ll be necessary to see if he overcomes [the whistles] or not.

“Sandro and Munir were also whistled recently. It’s pathetic to criticise your own players, it’s the worst thing a fan can do with a player in their own team.

“Iniesta? No-one can take Iniesta’s position away. He’s a unique and indisputable player. Asking if there’s anyone better than Iniesta is ridiculous.”

Tags Andre Gomes Juventus Luis Enrique
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