Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said on Friday (September 23) that it was in everyone's best interest for striker Lionel Messi to be in shape, after Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza said Barcelona should manage Messi's playing time better following the forward's latest injury.

Argentina captain Messi has started in five of Barca's six games this season, but was forced off in Wednesday's (September 21) 1-1 home draw against Atletico Madrid with a groin injury that will keep him out of action for three weeks.

The 29-year-old will miss Argentina's World Cup qualifiers in Peru on Oct. 6 and at home to Paraguay five days later, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) said in a statement.

"We are all looking after the best interests of Messi, of the player, not only of Messi but all our club's players, and I think we all have that objective. If a player gets injured, regardless of who, it is always bad news for us and it's terrible news if the best player in the world is injured," Luis Enrique said at a news conference.

Enrique said his team would have to adapt in the same manner as last season when they won eight of their 10 games without the talismanic forward.

A knee injury kept Messi out for two months last season but Luis Suarez and Neymar picked up the slack for the Catalan giants, scoring 20 of Barca's 23 goals.

"We have always said we are stronger with Leo Messi because he is the best, but we have enough resources to overcome our rivals," Luis Enrique said.

Barca signed Paco Alcacer as their fourth-choice striker from Valencia last month and the Spain international could have a more prominent role, starting with the trip to Sporting Gijon on Saturday (September 24).

Enrique was also asked about Spain's High Court decision on Friday to reopen a fraud and corruption investigation into Brazilian football player Neymar over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos, after an appeal by the public prosecutor.

"If there is a player that is used to different situations or shall I say a club that is used to these situations, it is FC Barcelona. From the players to the coach, we always have to deal with issues unrelated to soccer," he said.

A High Court judge had initially dropped the charges in July against Neymar and his father-cum-agent Neymar Da Silva Santos, as well as against former Barcelona president Sandro Rossell and ex-Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

Enrique also downplayed the controversy generated after Wednesday's match against Atletico which was triggered by Altetico defender Filipe Luis who posted a picture of his foot with an injury caused allegedly by one Luis Suarez's studs.

"I am sure Luis Suarez has no intention of offending others and that's the most important thing. In this world misinterpretations are the order of the day and there is a breeding ground for them to spread in, but I am absolutely certain Luis Suarez was not trying to offend anyone," the coach said.

Barca are third in the standings, three points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid, who visit Las Palmas on Saturday.

Sporting, Luis Enrique's home club, followed a 5-0 loss at Atletico Madrid with a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo on Wednesday.