<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Speaking at a press conference ahead of their trip to the Vicente CalderA?n, FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique slammed Spanish fans who booed defender Gerard Piqu during Spaina s Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovakia in Oviedo. </strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Piqu earned the wrath of a section of fans in Oviedo following the jibes he directed against Barcelonaa s long standing rivals Real Madrid and claiming that he "always wanted them [Real Madrid] to lose."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Following his statements directed at Real Madrid, Spaina s stand in captain and fellow central defender Sergio Ramos came out and reprimanded Pique for his outburst.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Piqu Boo Boys a pathetica </strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">Asked about the Gerard Pique situation in his press conference, Enrique quickly moved to defend the central defender, <a href="http://www.marca.com/en/2015/09/11/en/football/barcelona/1441975600.html" target="_blank">he said</a>: a Pique is splendid, very sincere and very original. What he said was funny."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I don't know why he is booed, and that is a question to ask the people that do so.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Do I always want Real Madrid to lose too? Piqu is an honest guy.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We need this rivalry between our clubs. Guti said the same back in the day.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"But I believe it's pathetic to whistle a player of the national team because it affects his teammates.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"It's comical that, in this country, things like this happen."</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>Enrique expects a tough game against a title contendersa Atletico</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">Barcelona travel to the Vicente CalderA?n to take on Atletico in a top of the table clash that could eventually determine the destination of the 2015-16 La Liga crown. The <em>Blaugrana</em> had clinched the trophy at the same venue on the penultimate weekend of last season after a magical solo effort from Lionel Messi gave them a 1-0 victory over the <em>Los Rojiblancos</em>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I expect a tough game regardless of the break", said Enrique.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"You either up your game against opponents of their calibre or you're in trouble.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Matches against Atl tico are always hard-fought and with tight scorelines.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Atl tico are title contenders and have strengthened their squad well. That's an added incentive for us.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify">"The visit [to Madrid] in itself presents certain difficulties. If we don't play a good match, Atl tico will hurt us.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"The [international] hiatus is not an excuse, neither for us nor for our rivals.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Atl tico also released a lot of players for international duty. We'll see who's affected more by that, but we're ready and very used to this sort of thing".</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"We're going there convinced we can win.a </p> <!--Article End-->