Barcelona released an official statement on Monday to congratulate their fans for their support in the defeat to Valencia and to encourage them to continue for the rest of the season.On Sunday night the Blaugrana lost 2-1 to Valencia – their most recent setback in a perilous couple of weeks which have seen them get knocked out of Europe and lose their nine point lead at the top of La Liga.
Yet the fans at Camp Nou remain in good spirits, and Sunday’s performance was watched by the fourth best attendance of the season, after previous high turnouts for the matches against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club.88,667 spectators looked on as Lionel Messi’s 500th career goal acted as the sole highlight of an otherwise disappointing match, not that the fans were silenced by the performance.According to the club, “The fans responded perfectly to the recent exit from Europe and supported the team until the final minute to try and help us to victory.
The supporters applauded all the players’ efforts and encouraged the team more than ever in a bid to help them in a moment when the results just aren’t coming.”Barcelona coach Luis Enrique shared a similar sentiment at the post-match press conference, as he was full of praise for the fans:”I played here for eight years and this is my second year as a coach, and I’ve never seen the Camp Nou so behind their team in a situation like the current one, in which luck hasn’t smiled upon us. I congratulate you.”Defender Gerard Pique also complimented the fans: “[They] have been better than ever. Losing 2-0 at half-time, with that atmosphere around us, against all odds, I can only give them a ten.””The truth is that I didn’t remember the Camp Nou like this,” he concluded.Barcelona’s next match at home will be against Sporting Gijon on April 23, and with the Asturian side currently wallowing in the relegation zone, it ought to be a match which will see the Camp Nou witness a first league victory since March 12.
