Barcelona boss Luis Enrique pays tribute to Marc Bartra

The delightful Marc Bartra gears up to score the seventh during the La Liga game between Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona on April 20, 2016
© AFP
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique pays tribute to the 'professionalism' of Marc Bartra, who scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has hailed the 'professionalism' of Spanish centre-back Marc Bartra.

The 25-year-old has largely struggled to hold down a regular spot in the Barcelona XI this season, but he started and indeed scored in Wednesday's 8-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga.

Enrique has hinted that the 25-year-old will once again drop out this weekend as Gerard Pique returns from a suspension, but the Barcelona boss has called on the defender to continue working hard.

"The match in A Coruna served to show that [Marc Bartra] is prepared to work brutally hard from behind the scenes," Enrique told reporters.

"He has the attitude needed for a professional. It's easy to talk and hard to put it into practice, but whenever I've spoken to him, he repeated to me that 'I'm ready for when you need me'. It's a great moment for him and he needs to enjoy continuing to prepare for when gets his next chance."

Bartra has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona362745104297585
2Atletico MadridAtletico36274560164485
3Real Madrid362664105327384
4Villarreal351710842311161
5Celta Vigo35169104955-657
6Athletic Bilbao351671253431055
7Sevilla351410114942752
8Valencia351111134442244
9Las PalmasLas Palmas36127174449-543
10Malaga351012133132-142
11EibarEibar36119164656-1042
12Real Sociedad36119164247-542
13Real Betis361011153150-1941
14Deportivo La CorunaDeportivo35718104357-1439
15Espanyol35107183567-3237
16Granada3699184265-2336
17Rayo Vallecano36811174870-2235
18Sporting GijonSporting Gijon3698193761-2435
19Getafe3588193364-3132
20Levante3578203363-3029