First came the six goals from his team and then bang - Luis Enrique hit the back of the net himself dropping the bombshell that he is leaving the club at the end of the season.
Few expected the 46-year-old coach to renew his contract that runs out this summer, especially after that 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain two weeks ago.
Yet he still stunned a crowded press room at the Nou Camp, finishing his press conference following his team's 6-1 win by saying he had one more thing to say – he was off.
The decision to make the early announcement is being seen as a move to galvanise his squad for the run-in and although he admitted to only having told his players after this win, they already look in the mood to send him off with a rousing finish to the campaign.
They thrashed struggling Sporting and only needed a 45-minute shift from Luis Suarez, and an hour from Lionel Messi to do so.
It was 3-1 and game over by half-time as they played some of their best football and the out-going coach's name was sung with no whistles from dissenting fans.
In a week's time Paris Saint-Germain will be in town and a 6-1 result will see Barcelona through. The French champions are unlikely to defend as Sporting did here but this was still a very positive performance – a riot of good football and great finishing.
The first goal was an all-Argentina production. There is a crossroads in the Northern Argentine City of Tucamen where the streets are named after Messi and Javier Mascherano – the pair were definitely on the same GPS on nine minutes when Mascherano found himself in the right back position and dinked a pass over the top of Sporting's defence for Messi to finish.
The visitors were attempting to play offside but Barcelona's No 10 just jogged between the two centre backs and, barely needing to jump, nodded the ball over the advancing Sporting keeper Ivan Cuellar. It was his 21st league goal of the season and surely his easiest.
When the second goal went in it was Neymar's pass and Suarez springing Sporting's shocking excuse for an offside trap. The ball was diverted over the line by Juan Rodriguez and is likely to be credited to the defender but Suarez took the plaudits from his team-mates.
Sporting had not won here in 30 years and this was a terrible start but they were buoyed on 21 minutes when they pulled it back to 2-1.
This time the through ball was from Burgui and when Sergio Alvarez's shot came back off a post Carlos Castro reacted more quickly than Umtiti to send it over the line.
The two-goal deficit was quickly restored. Sporting were defending like a team who are one off the bottom and had only won once away all season. Jean-Sylvian Babin headed the ball up instead of away and Suarez was unchallenged to thunder it past Cuellar on the volley.
Suarez did not reappear to torment Sporting further after the break. He will be needed at the weekend against Celta Vigo and then next week in the Champions League. Alcacer came on in his place. No one has played fewer minutes so far this season and no one needed a confidence-boosting goal more and it came for him in just four minutes.
Babin gift-wrapped another ball in the area, this time to Messi and he found Alcacer who scored his second goal of the season.
The singing section behind the goal was now loudly sing Enrique's name and the rest of the stadium respectfully observed. When they tried that a week ago the chants were whistled down. Time heals even 4-0 defeats to PSG.
Such was the mood that Messi took an early cut, substituted on the hour with Barcelona in total control of the game.
So no Suarez and no Messi – what could possibly go wrong for Sporting now? Neymar curled a picture-book free-kick past Cuellar, leaving the keeper tangled up in his own net, and it was five. Ivan Rakitic smashed the sixth goal in as the clock ran down and Barcelona left the field as leaders.
We thought the show was over but the drama had only just begun. Within the next couple of hours the coach would quit and Real Madrid would draw with Gareth Bale sent off to leave Barcelona top of the table.
