Luis Enrique hails 'global emblem' Iniesta
Barcelona's Andres Iniesta has been hailed by Luis Enrique as he celebrates 20 years at the club.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EnpbfwaraXEegz3hPBvzj7.jpg)
Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique has hailed Andres Iniesta as a global emblem of the sport ahead of Saturday's LaLiga match at Leganes.
Iniesta is marking 20 years since his arrival at Barcelona and Luis Enrique picked out the midfielder for special praise at his pre-match media conference on Friday.
The 32-year-old has won eight league titles with Barca, as well as two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup with Spain to build one of the most glittering records in football history.
"Andres is a marvellous player," Luis Enrique said. "It's a wonderful landmark that he's been here for 20 years, leaving his family behind to come here as a child.
"Now he's the club captain and an emblem not just in Spain and Europe, but all around the world.
"I'd highlight the way he's done it, too, the values he has. I don't think he's been sent off, no one remembers him doing anything nasty, neither in victory nor in defeat.
"It's a pleasure to have him as captain for everything that he represents. There won't be many Iniestas."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Barcelona are again expected to rotate their squad for the match against Leganes as they seek to bounce back from a shock 2-1 league loss at home to Alaves last weekend, but Luis Enrique is happy with his options.
"We have a squad, all the players that go out are Barca players and you have to support them," Luis Enrique said.
"These type of comparisons [between the Alaves and Celtic teams] don't make any sense. Get behind the players. It's not like we have a J team, a H team or a Z team, we have a squad. All the players are Barca players.
"We are on a cycle of seven games, with two down, we obviously have to plan for these things and make decisions as we go.
"We have Atletico [on Wednesday], games in Vigo, Germany and then the international break. We have to adapt what we can and make sure we get positive results for the team.
"What's happened has happened [the Alaves defeat]. There will be other games like that, but the question is whether we win the title in May, not if we've lost against X team or Y team."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack