Barcelona will play the same way without Messi says Luis Enrique

Enrique expects Luis Suarez and Neymar to raise their game in Messi’s absence

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has confirmed that the Catalan Champions will continue playing the same brand of football even in the absence of their Argentine magician Lionel Messi. The Argentinian had to be taken off in the La Liga Champions’ last game against Las Palmas, which Barcelona ended up winning 2-1 thanks to a Luis Suarez brace to return to winning ways in the Spanish League.

Even though Luis Enrique agreed that the team has a huge task ahead of them in trying to play the football Barcelona are renowned for without their talisman, the Spanish coach is confident the team will continue playing football the same way even without their Argentine talisman.

“There is no substitute for Messi, it will be a challenge to be competitive without him," said the Treble-winning manager ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen. "But we are going to have the same football plan that we use but with other players.”

Enrique can take solace from the fact the team played without Messi during their pre-season tour of the United States as the Argentine was given some time off due to his participation in the Copa America. The 45-year-old manager seemed confident that the team would be able to cope without Messi but was quick to stress the importance of the player stating that it is “impossible” to replace Messi.

Replacing Messi impossible: Enrique

"During preseason we had matches without Messi, Neymar, we used the same plan with other players. It is a challenge to be competitive minus the best player in the world. Pretending to be able to substitute a player like Leo is impossible," Enrique added.

Even without Messi, Barcelona are a team studded with star names such as Luis Suarez, Neymar and Andres Iniesta. Their coach expects them to raise their level for the team in the absence of the four-time Ballon d’Or winner.

"It is impossible that a manager can ask a player to take a step forward, that is [the player's] job," he said. "That is how I understand it. Neymar must continue to be Neymar and he does that very well. Luis Suarez must continue to be Luis Suarez, he also does that well. They all must take a step forward."

When asked if he had seen the Argentine Captain since his injury, Enrique said that the player had attended the last training session cheering on the team and seemed relaxed.

"He came here yesterday so we could see him and he was cheering us on. Now he has two fewer days that he will be in recovery. Time is working in his favour. I see him in a very good mood," Luis Enrique concluded.

Barcelona start their games without Lionel Messi when they welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the Nou Camp in an important match after drawing their first match of the campaign against AS Roma.