Players still behind Luis Enrique, says Barcelona captain

Barcelona midfield maestro Andres Iniesta has rejected suggestions the players are hounding Luis Enrique out the club and insist the dressing room is still behind their manager.

Enrique is widely expected to leave Barcelona at the end of the season after just two years as manager at the club following their humiliating 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last 16 clash in the Champions League last week.

It has been suggested that defeat in Paris was just the tip of the iceberg to what has been a disappointing season that would have looked even worse had Lionel Messi not returned to his best form this season.

Barcelona required a stoppage time penalty to overcome league minnows Leganes 2-1 on Sunday night to keep within one point of league leaders Real Madrid and Iniesta is adamant Enrique can get them through this difficult spell.

“We’ve not lost confidence in ourselves or in the manager,” The Daily Mail quoted Iniesta as saying. “I think it’s a one-off situation we’re going through. I’m sure we’ll recover those sensations which have seemed lost and our winning mentality for the upcoming challenges.

“Nothing is lost and we have to be convinced that we’ll get back to doing things the right way. We can’t keep looking back. We have to look forward and fight for everything – I don’t have any doubts in this team.”

Injuries and fitness have limited Iniesta to just six league starts this season, which perhaps sheds some light on their mixed form this term. In fact, Barcelona have only failed to win two of the six matches Iniesta has started in the league compared to six of the 17 he has not.

For more stats on Andres Iniesta, click here to visit his WhoScored player page