Luis Enrique, this is incomprehensible

Luis Enrique, this is incomprehensible

Xavier Ortuño

Subdirector de SPORT

Luis Enrique Martínez, entrenador del FC Barcelona
Luis Enrique Martínez, entrenador del FC Barcelona | Marc Casanovas

It's incomprehensible that after Real Madrid drew with Atletico, Barcelona did not take full advantage. To try and beat Carlos Kameni, to move back to the higest point of the table and from there to re-start their defence of La Liga, looking at Madrid in equal conditions, knowing that La Liga only depends on yourselves. 

But what happened an hour before the game is that Luis Enrique demonstrated to everyone that he gives more weight to Excel and rotations, where nothing seems to have been learned in the middle of the pitch, than the opportunity to stake a claim on La Liga. 

Seeing the line-up was like seeing ghosts: Mathieu, Andre Gomes... And they didn't disappoint (or rather, they did). There was no fluidity, the MSN weren't at their sharpest and the defenders were poor. 

On the other side, Malaga knew how to play Barça and took advantage of the spaces they were given in defence and in midfield. 

Then, at the break, Luis Enrique made Denis Suarez and Mathieu pay, replacing them with Iniesta and Sergi Roberto. Barça improved and changed their shape, trying to surprise a well-organised Malaga. The third chance was Paco Alcacer, who had on the opposite side one of the players he replaced at Barça. The difference is that Sandro was free and he cost 30 million euros.  

It is unforgivable to plan for a game that can help you to the top of the league this way. Perhaps someone will now realise that more than counting minutes in spreadsheets, what you have to do is add points on the league table.