Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 10y

Luis Enrique demands more unpredictability from Barcelona attack

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says his team is working on becoming more unpredictable in attack in the lead-up to Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash with Granada at the Camp Nou.

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Barca managed not even one shot on target over the 90 minutes during Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Malaga, the first time this had happened since the 2003-04 season, with Lionel Messi, Neymar, Andres Iniesta and company being bottled up by a well organised and disciplined Boquerones defence.

Ahead of the visit of Joaquin Caparros' Granada side, who are also likely to setup and try to frustrate the Blaugrana attackers, Lucho told his pre-match news conference that the team had been working on different solutions to the problems posed by defensive opponents.

"Ten shots on goal and none on target means we can do better, of course," Luis Enrique said. "We also had crosses into the box and other chances. We can improve of course, but we should not be over dramatic about it.

"Each opponent presents you difficulties, it is up to us to resolve them. Most teams who come here sit back to defend. We want to be unpredictable. The problem was not the attitude. On an individual level we can improve, as a team too. That is what we are working on."

Barca talisman Messi had by far his least effective game of the season so far at La Rosaleda, becoming involved in a clash with Malaga defender Weligton, and being caught on camera appearing to again suffer from the retching issue which has hampered him in the past.

"I did not even know about [the retching]," Luis Enrique said. "The doctors said last year it was under control. It is not a medical concern. I give that zero importance."

For Saturday's game the Blaugrana boss is likely to continue his rotation policy, with defenders Javier Mascherano and Dani Alves tipped to come back in, while summer signing Thomas Vermaelen is expected to feature for the first time since his move from Arsenal after overcoming a hamstring problem.

Despite this revolving back-line, Barca have yet to concede a goal in six games in all competitions so far this season, and Luis Enrique said he was very happy with his options at the back, which also include Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu and Marc Bartra.

"The centre-backs have all impressed me," he said. "I have liked how they played, for their own characteristics.

"We have signed good centre-halves, and we have resources there to be very satisfied with what we have. Vermaelen is training at a good level; he will be a good player for us."

Despite the team lacking creativity in midfield at La Rosaleda, Xavi Hernandez remained on the bench -- and has only been given 43 minutes of La Liga action so far. Luis Enrique said carefully that it was not a case of him not feeling that Xavi was not useful, just that he made his decisions based on the requirements for each individual game.

"I have said that I need Xavi," he said. "And all the players. I have him ready and will use him when I feel it is necessary. Whenever a player does not play you can ask me a question, but I can only play 11 players.

"And I decide who plays, who comes off the bench. I am not just or unjust with anyone. Over the season we will need all the players."

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