Luis Enrique is ready to move on from Barcelona’s defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico, saying that for him the game ‘no longer exists.’
Cristiano Ronaldo ended Barca’s 39-game unbeaten run even as Sergio Ramos was sent off, Enrique telling his post-match Press conference that Barca will learn from the loss.
“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,” Enrique noted, Marca reports.
“The first goal unsettled us. It’s unfortunate we lose a game at home. You don’t choose when you lose and it had to be today.
“We have to go forward and stand up and think about the Champions League. We’re leaders and the one that wins is the most consistent. So far, we are.
“For me, this game no longer exists. There is no pair or anything you can think of. We come from a lot of game without losing, but defeat also teaches you things. All competitions are difficult, my players knew that.”
Barca are next in action on Tuesday in the Champions League, with La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid the opponents, and that game is Lucho’s focus now.
“What’s left is very important. We have to reinforce what we’ve been doing well and see what can be improved,” he went on.
“[Atletico] is a very complicated rival, who defend very well and who have the same objective.”
Enrique also declined to agree with the suggestion Barca struggled after Ivan Rakitic was replaced by Arda Turan, nor that the players are tired after the internationals.
“Ivan had a yellow card and that’s a risk. Arda could give us more football between the lines,” he argued.
“He was unlucky because he came on when the game was a little crazy.
“Fatigue? I have a rule not to talk about this because I don’t want excuses. Sometimes you have to play with these circumstances, to travel, and you have to compete in these competitions.”
