Two players who are considered to be Barcelona’s finest are facing health issues making a lot of sports enthusiasts doubt if their team will ever get a chance to hit back on Elche. On the contrary, Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique has no doubt that they will come prepared and get full-control over their opponent.
Lionel Messi remains to be on top of coach Enrique’s list of forwards. Neymar da Silva Santos Junio, more popularly known as “Neymar”, incurred an ankle injury during this week’s practice while Pedro is suffering from gastroenteritis, commonly called the “stomach flu”. The team’s new apprentice, Luis Suarez also cannot participate in the game until the last week of October as penalty for biting during the 2014 World Cup Brazil.
Luis Enrique said in a press conference at Camp Nou that both players trained well this week so he is expecting that his two of his greatest soccer players will be able to join the group once they are in perfect shape come the competition day.
Fortunately, the Camp Nou medical team gave Neymar a “physically fit” status this Monday after sustaining a fractured vertebra last July when he played for Brazil and went head-to-head against Juan Camilo Zuñiga of Columbia in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals game.
Neymar can play as a striker, winger, and an attacking midfielder. Due to his flexibility as a soccer player, he is often compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the notable and highest paid soccer players of today. Neymar admitted in an interview that he is truly a Messi fan, a reason why he loved imitating Messi’s style of play.
In Barca’s friendly bout against Leon last Monday, Neymar played wisely with dynamism. He bagged a brace as their team was triumphant and scored 6-0 on that match. Munir El Haddadi bagged two braces on that game although the Barcelona coach does not intend to make him part of the squad for now.
Pedro is a 27-year old Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona’s as a forward or winger. Though originally right-footed, he plays ball using his left foot and moves swiftly against another attacker. He is considered one of the key players of Barca alongside Messi and Neymar.
Catalan club had a change of some of its members following their first defeat in six straight years. Luis Enrique has high hopes that Barcelona’s lineup is strong and although their upcoming match may be a challenge, their team will overshadow Elche. Enrique said that they are already expecting their opponent’s attack but they will always come up with a better plan.
