Barcelona coach Luis Enrique lamented his side's poor finishing, but did not see deeper structural issues with his team, when speaking after Saturday's dour 0-0 draw at Getafe in La Liga.
Barca had most of the possession during a game played in damp conditions at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, but were unable to create clear chances inside the opposition penalty area for long periods, and came closest through a 25 yard Lionel Messi free-kick which rebounded back off the crossbar.
The Blaugrana coach said at his postmatch news conference that his players had created enough chances to win the game, and things would have been very different if one of them had been able to find the net.
"We were much better than the opponents, created much more chances, it is difficult to play against Getafe," Luis Enrique said. "If we had converted some of our chances, some clear, then it would have been a different game. As the game went on, we kept pushing on to win the game, more through wanting it than by using our heads. Really, apart from one or two chances they had, we had the game controlled in all moments."
Barca returned to a 4-3-3 set-up, after playing a more unconventional 3-2-4-1 shape during Wednesday's 3-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain. And, asked whether the change of system had contributed to his side's struggles on the pitch, Luis Enrique did not want to discuss his tactical decisions.
"We have played the same system all season," he said. "We knew it would be a difficult game, they would make it complicated for us, we tried to play the best game possible. I am not unhappy with what we have done."
Pushed as to whether Barca had actually played well in a game in which home keeper Vicente Guaita did not have to make many difficult saves, Luis Enrique again said he was happy with the opportunities that had been created.
"The second half I saw us getting into the area many times, there were lots of crosses, lots of shots - we hit the woodwork with one," he said. "We had many chances to score a goal, got lots of people into the area. It is always difficult when opposition teams sit back so much."
Visiting goalkeeper Claudio Bravo actually made the game's best save, a superb fingertip stop to deny Getafe's Angel Rafita, in one of the home side's few breaks during the opening period.
"Our team played almost the whole game in their half," Luis Enrique said. "That is why we have a goalkeeper. To save the chances the rival gets."
The result sees Barca drop four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, and ensures that Carlo Ancelotti's team will top the table during the winter break, even though they do not play next weekend due to their World Club Cup commitments.
Luis Enrique admitted he was not so happy that such a gap had opened up, however there was still plenty of games left for his team to improve and overturn the situation.
"There is still a long way to go -- we were four points clear at the top, now it could be the reverse," he added. "Of course I would prefer to be closer to the top, but we must be self-critical, we must accept this, we must improve, of course there are things to improve."