‘Barca made for games like this’

Luis Enrique insists Barcelona go to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg in good shape despite recent defeats.

Barca haven’t won in three League games, drawing with Villarreal and losing to Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, but did beat Atletico in the first leg.

“We’ve arrived well and [Gerard Pique] is fine,” Enrique told reporters, according to AS, after the defender was said to be a fitness doubt.

“This team is made for games like this and we are in the perfect condition to compete. We’ll have time to analyse [losing to La Real]. Now we’re playing the Champions League, another competition.

“I’m only interested in this round. We won the first leg and we want to repeat that in the return.”

Enrique added that Barca aren’t practising penalties, despite Atletico knocking out PSV Eindhoven that way in the Round of 16, and declined to blame any one player for recent poor results.

“We haven’t practised penalties, but we know who our specialists are. When that situation comes, if it comes, we’ll see,” the Coach said of spot kicks.

“I don’t hear anything said. I can’t control what happens outside. No, we haven’t practised penalties. We know our specialists. It’s a mental issue.

“Neymar is a specialist and he receives the most fouls. The referee will decide. We’re a team who take more tackles than we give.

“I’ve nothing to say about Lionel Messi. It’s very unfair for a victory to be for three players and a defeat to be for one. In victory we celebrate together and in defeat, I’m the culprit.

“Arda Turan? I’m happy with his performances, especially in the last game. Everything that’s happening is normal. He has a good attitude and a desire to do things right.”

Tags Luis Enrique
La Liga - Club News