Luis Enrique on Clasico defeat: This game no longer exists
Luis Enrique says Barcelona's defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday "doesn't exist" as he looks to bounce back in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Here are the Barça manager's views on the Clasico:
The game: What happened can happen in any game, there are two rivals. Madrid shut themselves up in their half in the second half to find transitions and we have managed the game well for a large part of it. The first goal damaged us, it unsettled us. It’s unfortunate to lose a game at home. You don’t choose when you lose and it had to be today. We have to recover, rest and be ready for the Champions League. We’re league leaders and the title will be won by the team that is the most consistent. Wer will try to be that team.
Moving forward: This game no longer exists. Now there is no pain or anything. We been through a lot of games without losing, but defeat also teaches you things. All competitions are difficult, my players knew that. This can happen when you rival has quality like you.
Champions League: What’s to come is very important. We have to reinforce what we’ve been doing well and see what can be improved. We have to think about the quarter-final of the Champions League. Atletico are a really complicated rival, who defend very well and who have the same objectives as us.
Arda for Rakitic: In principle, Ivan had a yellow card and that is a risk. Arda could give us more between the lines, but he's had bad luck. He has come on at a time when the game went crazy and we committed several errors. This is a game of errors and you have to be prepared to take responsibility for them.
Ramos' offences: I don't speak about referees. In these games with so much tension it is difficult for the managers, the players and the officials.
Tired players: I don’t like to look for excuses. It was fine. Sometimes you have to play with these circumstances, with travel around the world, because we have the best players in the world. You have to compete in these competitions.
