Summary "We spoke and it didn't make any sense to risk it at 2-0 and with all that we have to come"
BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona boss Luis Enrique insisted his decision to remove Lionel Messi at half-time of the European champions 6-0 thrashing of 10-man Athletic Bilbao on Sunday was merely a precaution.
Messi paraded his record fifth Ballon d Or to the Barca fans before kick-off and opened the scoring from the penalty spot just three minutes in.
"We have to wait and see what the tests say, but it was a slight strain and we preferred not to risk it," said Enrique. Should Barca beat Athletic in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday their early 2016 schedule will see them due to play 17 matches by the end of February alone.
"We spoke and it didn t make any sense to risk it at 2-0 and with all that we have to come," added Enrique.
