MANCHESTER -- Luis Enrique denied Barcelona's morale was damaged by their defeat to Malaga, just as Gerard Pique denied the relationship between the players and their manager has been strained.
The former Spanish champions had reeled off 11 successive wins, their best sequence under Luis Enrique, before their surprise 1-0 setback on Saturday.
But the manager insisted his players are unaffected as they go into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City.
"I don't see why the team should be down after such a great run of victories," Luis Enrique said in a news conference.
And defender Pique added: "There are no problems between ourselves and the manager. We get on fine. The relationship is good. We are just off 11 wins on the bounce. One defeat can't make us doubt ourselves."
Barcelona eliminated City at the same stage last season and Luis Enrique admits he is unsure if the English champions will present a stiffer test 12 months on.
"I don't know if there is a bigger gap or if the gap has closed," he added. "We have both won our respective league titles over the years. City have strengthened in the summer, we have too. We have changed. It was necessary for Barca to move on and bring in new players."
Luis Enrique praised Luis Suarez, who is preparing to make his first appearance in England since leaving Liverpool last summer.
The Uruguayan has only scored four league goals for Barcelona but Luis Enrique added: "He has been doing really well. It is his first season here. He is a real reference in attack, a real target man. He has got virtues that really benefit us. He is good on the ball, he allows other forwards to work around him, he creates space. He is going to bring a lot to Barcelona in the future."
Luis Enrique also believes Neymar, who is in his second season at the Camp Nou, has improved dramatically and feels the Brazilian is a real crowd-pleaser.
"I think he is on the right lines," he said. "He is improving tremendously compared to his first year. It takes time for a foreign player to come and settle in. He has a very high level as a player and always has done. He has gone through his settling in period and is bringing a lot to the side.
"He is quite lightweight and it is normal players like him suffer a lot of fouls. He is a great player for the fans to watch, very attractive, and a great level at the moment."