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Barcelona coach Luis Enrique once more hailed his side's star man Lionel Messi after the Argentine's double in Saturday's 6-0 La Liga stroll past Granada brought him past 400 career goals. Neymar also scored a hat trick as Barca returned to the top of the early La Liga table, with Ivan Rakitic also getting on the scoresheet as Granada's initially solid resistance quickly crumbled at the Camp Nou. Speaking at his post-match news conference he said that watching Messi -- who now has five goals and eight assists in total this season -- was just a joy. "I believe that if you put together all the goals we scored at lunch-time, you would not reach 400, not even drunk," Enrique said. "He is someone touched by a magic wand. I thought about taking him off for a rest, but you just want to enjoy watching him play, to see Leo pressing opponents, and being generous." The Asturian also picked up on a reference made last week by Elche coach Fran Escriba, who had likened Messi's great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to NBA legend Michael Jordan after Ronaldo scored four times in Real Madrid's 5-1 La Liga win. "If Cristiano is Jordan, Messi is Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 points in one NBA game," Enrique said. "Ronaldo is a great player, but I will stick with Leo." The blaugrana chief made six changes to the team which drew 0-0 at Malaga on Wednesday night, changing his entire back four, and bringing in Xavi Hernandez for his first La Liga start of the season. - Ledwith: Barcelona player ratings
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- Enrique: Suarez is not out of shape "I have my wardrobe full of coats -- I can take out whichever ones I think suitable," Enrique said. "This for me is an advantage, and for some players it is inconvenient. But we are going to move on like this independently of who plays. Xavi will help us sometimes on the pitch, sometimes off it, and that is the objective with all the players." The veteran playmaker has been eclipsed so far this season by summer signing Rakitic, whose first half header was his second goal in a week, and who was applauded off the pitch by the Camp Nou faithful when he was replaced midway through the second half. "Rakitic is not the embodiment of what I want, all the players do that," Enrique added. "Those who were here, those who have not yet won much, the youngsters who want to wear the jersey. We have all seen Rakitic at Sevilla, he has the ability to be important for the club. It is surprising how he has adopted to the position, but we knew he could help us."
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