Luis Enrique insists decisions made in Barcelona’s win over Ajax were not related to playing Real Madrid on Saturday.
Enrique withdrew both Neymar and Lionel Messi around the hour mark but speaking to reporters post match, said he was only judging the game as it was, not looking ahead to Santiago Bernabeu.
Ajax came more into the game in the final half-hour, scoring in the last few minutes before Sandro Ramirez wrapped up the points, but Enrique defended the changes
“Football is a continuous risk but I didn’t take a chance with the substitutions,” he said, AS reports.
“I’d do the same again because I trust my squad. I didn’t think about the Clasico. Decisions were made regarding Ajax.
“We go to the Bernabeu in the best way. We’re top of the League and we want to measure ourselves against the eternal rival that Catalans have.”
On the subject of the Ajax win, Enrique lamented the failure to seal the game earlier but praised Javier Mascherano’s performance in midfield.
“We didn’t close the game in the first half, when we were playing much better, but I was satisfied with what I saw on the pitch,” he added.
“My job isn’t only to work with Messi and Neymar, but everyone can do better and run a little more.
“Mascherano? He had a complete game in midfield.”
