<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has come out and rubbished allegations of indiscipline leveled against his FC Barcelona players by some pundits and sections of the media. </strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">The allegations come after Barcelona's Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano was sent off against Eibar at the weekend for allegedly insulting the assistant referee's mother. Mascherano faces a potential four match ban in case FC Barcelona's appeal is shot down. As a result, Mascherano may end up missing the <em>Clasico </em>against Real Madrid which is scheduled to take place on November 21.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Earlier in the season, FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was handed a 4 match ban after he verbally abused the assistant referee in the Supercopa defeat to Athletic Bilbao in August.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Barcelona players do not have a discipline problem: Enrique</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Speaking to the media ahead of his side's Copa del Rey first leg clash at Villanovense (a Segunda Division B club), Enrique quashed all allegations of indiscipline leveled against his Barcelona players.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I was able to speak with Masche, the whole team spoke, and I believe there is an improvement in my players' behaviour," Enrique said <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/barcelona/story/2684812/luis-enrique-wont-be-drawn-on-javier-mascherano-insult">(via ESPNFC)</a>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"I do not see anything strange in their behaviour, apart from the typical protests of each game, which happen with all teams and all players.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"The ban will be what the [officials] think it should be, it does not matter what I think."</p> <p style="text-align: justify">On his side's Copa del Rey clash against Villanovense, <a href="http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/luis-enrique-says-there-are-plenty-of-hurdles-throughout-the-season">Enrique added</a>, "We are limited in the number of Bar a B players that we can use. I would like more players to rest, but that's what the rule is and it has to be followed."</p> "The cup format already changed a bit; to lighten the schedule I'd like to see a single game in all the knockout rounds. <p style="text-align: justify">"The season is so long that we have to prepare for them," he said. "You have to overcome obstacles all throughout the season."</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Potential Mascherano ban a major blow to Barcelona </strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">Javier Mascherano's loss to a potential 4-match ban will be a major blow to FC Barcelona's title ambitions. Apart from missing the clashes against Villanovense in the Copa del Rey and Getafe and Villarreal in La Liga, Mascherano's absence in the <em>Clasico</em> against Real Madrid will be a huge setback to Barcelona's title ambitions.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Mascherano is a pivotal cog in the Barcelona wheel. His presence as a defensive shield in Barcelona's midfield provides an opportunity to the more attacking players to flourish in the final third.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">FC Barcelona are already missing the services of stalwarts such as Messi and Iniesta through injury. Mascherano's prospective ban will further add to the woes of manager Luis Enrique.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">a Bar a persecuted? Ita s just part of the circus; I refuse to get involveda - Luis Enrique . <a href="https://t.co/4ZoWdxLYHC">https://t.co/4ZoWdxLYHC</a> <a href="https://t.co/fMejkvRQhL">pic.twitter.com/fMejkvRQhL</a></p> a AS English (@English_AS) <a href="https://twitter.com/English_AS/status/659006745482805248">October 27, 2015</a></blockquote> <!--Article End-->