FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is of the opinion that the UEFA Best Player in Europe should go to a member of his fabled attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
The shortlist for this year’s UEFA Best Player in Europe was announced last night with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo making it to the final top three after beating competition from Manuel Neuer, Neymar and Eden Hazard.
However, Enrique questioned the decision of the governing body to not include Neymar as one of the finalists for the UEFA Trophy. Neymar was part of the record-breaking trio of ‘MSN’ which racked up an incredible 122 goals between them last season and helped FC Barcelona to the treble.
MSN for the shortlist of UEFA Best Player
Speaking in a press conference, as quoted by Goal, the Spaniard said:
“Who decided that Neymar isn’t one of the candidates for the Uefa trophy?”
“I think it should be Neymar, Messi and Suarez, without a doubt.”
Luis Enrique might be seen suggesting that Neymar should have made it to the short-list ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo won the Pichichi award last season after having led the La Liga goal scoring charts for the better part of the season, but failed to guide his team to a title last season.
FC Barcelona is the team to beat in Spain and Europe
Having won the treble under Luis Enrique, FC Barcelona went on to beat Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup on Tuesday night to add to their trophy cabinet. Luis Enrique also reiterated the Catalan giants’ desire to complete the sextuple, a feat that has only ever been achieved once, by the legendary FC Barcelona side of 2009. He also talked up his side to be the team to beat, both in Spain and Europe.
“The pre-season schedule was set up so we can be the best we can be,” he said. “We have to be competitive from the start of the season and still be the team to beat. I would also say the same in Europe.”
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“The sextuple is a goal we have in mind and one that motivates us but we are focused on is winning the fifth title first – the sixth is still far away.”
FC Barcelona take on Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Supercopa on Friday.