MX23RW : Tuesday, May 21 19:21:48| >> :120:10763:10763:

Luis Enrique: 'Impossible to replace Lionel Messi'

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique admits that it will be "a big challenge" for his team to cope without Lionel Messi, who suffered a serious knee injury at the weekend.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has admitted that it is "impossible" for the Catalan side to replace Lionel Messi following his long-term injury.

The Argentine suffered knee ligament damage in Saturday's La Liga clash with Las Palmas and is expected to be on the sidelines for the next six to eight weeks.

Ahead of Tuesday's Champions League Group E game against Bayer Leverkusen, Enrique spoke about the "big challenge" of learning to cope without the club's leading marksman.

"It's a big challenge to play without Messi. It's a motivation, but you can't replace ‪Messi, that's impossible," Enrique told reporters.

Luis Suarez and Neymar are now Barcelona's only two senior strikers in the first-team squad, but Sandro Ramirez and Munir El-Haddadi have both already featured this season.

ID:249107: cacheID:249107:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1830:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Jordi Alba for Barcelona on December 7, 2014
Read Next:
Alba, Bravo fit for Barcelona
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid37297187266194
2Barcelona37257577433482
3GironaGirona37246778463278
4Atletico MadridAtletico372341068432573
5Athletic Bilbao371811860372365
6Real Sociedad371612951371460
7Real BetisBetis37141494845356
8Villarreal371410136464052
9Valencia37139153843-548
10AlavesAlaves37129163545-1045
11Osasuna37128174455-1144
12Getafe371013144152-1143
13Sevilla371011164752-541
14Celta Vigo371010174455-1140
15Las PalmasLas Palmas37109183246-1439
16Rayo Vallecano37814152947-1838
17Mallorca37716143143-1237
RCadizCadiz37615162549-2433
RGranada3749243872-3421
RAlmeria37212233774-3718


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!