Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insists the freedom granted to Lionel Messi does not extend to the dressing-room.
Messi, who has reached 400 senior career goals for club and country in the early part of the season, has been granted a more free role under the new Blaugrana boss after a more restricted position in Gerardo Martino’s side last term.
While he admits the team does what it can to accommodate the Argentina ace’s movement in matches, Luis Enrique has stressed the 27-year-old receives no such special treatment behind the scenes at the club.
When asked whether Messi is granted total freedom, he told reporters: “Yes, but always on the pitch, it does not extend to the dressing room. He has such ability that he has complete freedom in phases of play. We adapt to him and he adapts to us so that he is involved as much as possible in the game.”
Xavi admitted earlier this week that he has not been happy with a bench role so far this season, but Luis Enrique was delighted to see a “rebellious streak” in his players.
“That’s the goal of every player, at 34 or 20. They all want to play and help the team,” he said. “I love the fact that all the players have a rebellious streak in that respect. The day that he plays you’ll be asking me why [Ivan] Rakitic or [Andres] Iniesta aren’t.”
Gerard Pique is another to have found his playing time curtailed this season, with Luis Enrique often favouring Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu at the heart of defence, but he was still named in the Spain squad for the up-coming international break.
“I think that’s fantastic. It shows the magnitude of the players we have,” said Luis Enrique of Pique’s call-up. “His situation is the same as the other central defenders. There are no changes in his case.”
Source: Goal