<
>

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique backs Gerard Pique's use of Periscope

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has backed Gerard Pique's use of social media application Periscope to give fans a direct look behind the scenes at the Nou Camp club.

Pique has recently begun to use Periscope to broadcast live after games, posting a video from the team bus after the wins at Rayo Vallecano and Eibar.

Barcelona have asked the player's agent, Arturo Canales, to encourage him to use it in moderation, according to Spanish media reports.

That happened after Pique was knocked to the ground by a teenage fan while filming a Periscope video inside his computer games company Kerad Games.

But Luis Enrique told his news conference before the weekend match against Getafe: "For me, it seems marvellous.

"A direct connection between fans and players, who see how normal things are on the journey, seems fantastic."

UEFA has said it will not allow players to release live images from stadiums during Euro 2016, and Spain coach Vicent del Bosque said: "It is not about being too permissive, but about using common sense to avoid problems. Pique is a kid with a very good head."

Luis Enrique said he was confident that his players, who face Arsenal in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg on Wednesday, could continue their 36-game unbeaten run against Getafe, explaining: "I feel we can continue on this line or better.

"But we know it will not be easy -- we just go out to win the points we can."

Barca go into the game eight points clear of second placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the table and looking for a 12th straight league win.