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Luis Enrique could be forced to use Sergi Roberto as a centre-back when Barcelona open their La Liga campaign against Real Betis this weekend with a shortage of defenders. Injuries to Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu, on top of the summer departures of Thomas Vermaelen and Marc Bartra, leave Barca with just Gerard Pique and new signing Samuel Umtiti available for Saturday's curtain-raiser. If anything were to happen to either of those two players, though, Luis Enrique would be left without a natural replacement. "We had to use Ivan Rakitic as an emergency centre-back [against Sevilla] and I have contemplated the possibility of Sergi Roberto, too," the Blaugrana boss told a news conference on Friday. "I hope I don't have to use him there, but he could play there. I'm sure he would do well." In an ideal world Luis Enrique would have been able to turn to the B team, but legislation has got in his way. While 20-year-old Brazilian defender Marlon Santos does not yet have international clearance and Borja Lopez is injured, league rules mean that if Jose Antonio Martinez plays against Betis he would become ineligible for the second string -- only players under the age of 23 can move freely between the two teams. It's something Luis Enrique suggested he thinks should change. "My criticism [after the Super Cup] was of some things which I do not like and that I think should change," he added. "I hope they change, for the good of football and of the professionals. I can't be more explicit, but when something has changed which I don't like, I'll say [then]." As reigning champions, the Catalan side kick off the new campaign as favourites to win the title for a third consecutive year. However, despite acknowledging that tag, Luis Enrique warned that the likes of Real Madrid, who have not won La Liga since 2012, will push them all the way. "We start as favourites because we won the league last season, but as of today we all start with the same points," the 46-year-old said. "There can always be surprises, so we have to wait and see. "Our objective is to win [the league] for the third time in a row, that's what motivates us, but there are some big clubs which haven't want the league for many years and I'm sure they'll put pressure on."
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