Enrique: Messi great all-rounder for Barca

BARCELONA -- Barcelona coach Luis Enrique hailed
Lionel Messis all-round performance after the Argentine's
latest hat trick saw off neighbours Espanyol 5-1 in Sunday
afternoon's city derby.
The visitors shocked the Camp Nou by taking an early lead
through former Blaugrana graduate Sergio Garcia, but Messi
soon took control and notched a 21st La Liga treble to
ultimately guide his side to a comfortable win.
Gerard Pique and substitute Pedro Rodriguez were the
other scorers as Barca moved back to within two points of
Primera Division leaders Real Madrid, and Enrique told his
post-match news conference that Messi's ability to decide games
was nothing new.
"Messi, like [Neymar and Luis Suarez], attacks but he
defends too," Enrique said. "You easily get used to having
players who can make the difference like that. When they have
freedom, it is difficult to stop them.
"What we want is that, in Leo's case, he brings the most to
the team. He did not just do that today scoring; he also made
chances, and we saw him defending too. That is what we look
for in all our players."
Enrique admitted that Messi's first goal -- a 20-yard drive
arrowed into the net just before half-time -- had turned a
game which had become difficult for his side.
"Their goal started to generate doubts," he said. "It was
difficult for us to get in to the game, and their counters were
causing us problems. [Messi's first] goal was key. Without any
doubt ... [it was] key for us, and also for the opponents who
had defended so well.
"At the start of the second half the second goal did a lot of
damage to the opponent. After the break we were much
better, more fluid, [with] more movement of the ball. When
we can get to the edge of the box in those situations it is
difficult for opponents."
The game was played with a heavier police presence than
usual, as part of a move by Spain's political and footballing
authorities to crack down on violent behaviour around games
in the wake of the death of a Deportivo La Coruna ultra 'fan'
last weekend.
Asked about a report by COPE radio that 17 Real Madrid
fans had been expelled from the Bernabeu during Saturday's
3-0 win over Celta Vigo for chanting offensive slogans against
Messi and Barca, the former Barca and Madrid player said
it was a difficult situation to try and control such situations.
"Any anti-violence measures I back, but if we start expelling
people from stadiums for insults there will not be many left,
including players," Enrique said. "I've been going to games
since I was eight years old, there are insults in all stadiums, I
do not know where we can put the line.
"We must try and control all the negative things, any violent
acts, but we are talking about the culture of the country. I
would be delighted if there were no more insults, but we are
passionate people, enthusiastic."
Messi and company now move on to Wednesday night's
Champions League Group F decider at home to Paris
Saint-Germain, for whom ex-Barca forward Zlatan
Ibrahimovic is set to feature.
"PSG is a marvellous, perfect game for us," Enrique added.
"It gives us chance to win and top the group. I did not see
their game [2-1 win over Nantes on Saturday], but we have
reports on all their matches.
"Today we will start to focus on them, we know them very
well. They are getting Ibrahimovic back. I expect a similar
version to what we saw in Paris. I hope we get a better
result."