FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has hailed the performance of the Catalan giants following 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
FC Barcelona held off Athletic Bilbao to win their opening La Liga game by a solitary Luis Suarez goal with Lionel Messi missing a penalty.
Enrique hails complete performance
Atheltic Bilbao had inflicted a confidence-sapping 4-0 defeat on FC Barcelona when the sides met in the Spanish Super Cup, a week ago, at St. Mames. Athletic eventually won the tie 5-1 and crashed any hope of Enrique and his men of winning a sextuple.
There were worries about the defence, which had conceded 9 goals in 3 competitive games, and despite missing some key players, Enriquea s men kept a clean sheet.
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Luis Enrique was quick to acknowledge his Barcelona team putting in a “complete” display to beat Athletic Bilbao.
He was quoted saying to reporters by Goal.com: “We have started our league campaign with a very high level. We prevented them from generating any danger.
“We had a very complete game in all areas of the field.
“We generated scoring chances and had to suffer their tight marking.”
Busquets, Dani Alves injuries not serious
FC Barcelona went into the game missing a lot of player to suspension and injuries. There was no Jeremy Mathieu, Gerard Pique, Neymar, Adriano and joining the list are Dani Alves and Sergio Busqets who were injured in a bruising tie.
However, allaying fears of a long injury battle for the duo, Enrique said: “Football is a contact sport and injuries are part of the game, but fortunately it seems that neither of them are major concerns.”
Enrique also refused to get drawn into discussing the future of Neymar, with recent reports in the press in England linking him with a move to Manchester United.
Enrique said: “I’ve heard people talk about Neymar and another club and I do not care, I won’t talk about rumours.”