Barcelona manager Luis Enrique produced his angriest team talk ever in a bid to inspire the Catalan side to a victory against Real Betis. Barcelona were in danger of letting 10 man Real Betis prevent them from scoring and thus go behind in the title race, before Enrique unleashed his tirade to provoke a successful response from his players.
According to a report in Catalan daily Sport, Luis Enrique tore into his team at half time after Barcelona looked lethargic against Real Betis, with the game scoreless. Enrique was less than impressed and with Barcelona 3rd in the table at that point, raged at his players, saying “Do you want to win La Liga, yes or no? Because it doesn't seem like it.”
Lucho further criticized his side for the surprisingly pedestrian performance they put against 10-man Betis, saying “You're playing with no intensity, with no pace, with nothing. It seems like you've got nothing to play for. Either we move forward [in the second half] or we throw away La Liga. It's up to you.”
It seems Enrique’s brand of hairdryer treatment worked, although it was a gift from Betis that handed Barcelona their opener, with Adan making a howler in the hosts goal allowing Ivan Rakitic to profit in the 50th minute. Luis Suarez also missed a host of chances as the game progressed, but managed to make the game safe in the 81st minute, thus propelling Barcelona back to the La Liga summit on 85 points.
Spanish press playing up tension between Enrique and Barca players
While most might look upon Enrique’s half-time rant as a necessary intervention, it seems as though the press in Madrid are taking a different view of the incident, with Madrid-based Spanish daily Diario AS noting that it was the latest in a series of events that reveal the underlying tension in the Barcelona dressing room.
Citing a couple of reports in Mundo Deportivo, the daily noted that Barcelona’s top stars were unhappy with the starting lineup Enrique put up against Real Sociedad, a game the Catalans went on to lose 1-0.
Enrique is also reportedly unhappy that Barcelona were unable to push through a move for Celta Vigo forward Nolito, who was heavily rumoured to arrive in January despite being out with a long-term injury.
However, after a 2-0 victory at the Benito Villamarin, it seems as though this might all be water under the bridge if Barcelona maintain their position at the top of La Liga come the end of the season.
