Football
8y

Luis Enrique: Barcelona focused on Atletico Madrid, Clasico loss behind us

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says Saturday's 2-1 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid is "already in the past," with his side now looking ahead to Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal first leg with Atletico Madrid.

Barca's 39-game unbeaten streak came to an end at the weekend as Madrid secured a much-needed victory to close the gap on the Primera Division leaders to seven points.

Luis Enrique believes his side must learn from the loss, in which Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late winner for 10-man Madrid, with the Champions League clash with Atletico at the Camp Nou right around the corner.

"We did not know what a defeat was like, for a long time," Luis Enrique said. "But we know how painful it is to lose, and that will be a stimulus to win again. We remain on the same line as last games, last months, we are optimistic. There can be exaggerations after one game, or at one point, for good or bad.

"We professionals look for more normality, remain relaxed, and we still would not change our position for anyone else. We are still best team so far in La Liga, no doubt, and with a Champions League quarterfinal tie against a top level rival.

"We need to keep doing what we were doing well and see in which areas we need to improve."

Atletico eliminated Barca in the Champions League quarterfinals in 2014 -- the only other time the two sides have met in the competition.

They secured a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou before claiming a 1-0 home win in the return leg to reach the semifinals.

Luis Enrique repeated his analysis of Saturday evening that Barca had dominated the game against Real Madrid until the final stages, when a lack of accuracy on their part had let Madrid counter-attack more easily, but added this did not mean he or his players would change their traditional approach.

"For me we played a very good first 70 minutes, played a spectacular first half," he said. "After we conceded the goal, we lacked precision, as can happen. They have quality and were precise in their transitions.

"We will not change our way of playing, to have the ball in opposition half. That means opponent can break on us, although we want to have the least number of transitions as possible. But we are not machines, there can be mistakes, positional or decision making.

"I have blind faith in my players, this path has won many trophies over the years, and we must stick to it."

Barca's front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were unusually subdued against Madrid, with Messi playing more centrally than in other games this season, but Luis Enrique knocked back a suggestion the front three were to blame for the defeat.

"Messi played very well, as did the front three," he said. "For 70 minutes we were superior. Leo can help you have superiority in the middle of the field, has done that many times. They are not machines, they are best players in the world in their position.

"But that is far from saying they are invincible. What we win comes from work of everyone, and when we lose everyone is guilty, not one player, or three players."

The former Barca midfielder also rejected an idea that his own decision to replace Ivan Rakitic with Arda Turan during the second half on Saturday had helped Madrid counter-attack much easier.

"I am a football coach, and once you qualify, you start to get criticised," he said. "We will analyse what happened, and nothing more. I am delighted with Arda Turan, he has great quality, brings us lots of things. Not all players adapt at same pace, logically, but Arda is fully adapted, he knows the mechanisms, there is no doubt about that."

Against Atletico, Luis Enrique said he as usual expected a stiff challenge from Diego Simeone's super-organised side and did not expect the tie to be decided until late in next Wednesday's second leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

"They are a difficult team, Atletico are top -- with a clear philosophy of play," he said. "They are dangerous when they press high, or when they drop back. They are dangerous on the counter, at set-pieces, and have a great coach. In their last game they played two forwards, plus a number 10, a 4-2-3-1.

"Something else for us to consider. That is how they compete with Real Madrid and us, without the same economic resources. They will make things very difficult for us, over the 90 minutes, in both legs."

Simeone meanwhile, said he is taking nothing for granted.

"Every game against Barcelona is different," the Argentine said. "We have to prepare as well as possible to be able to reach our goal against them."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^