Luis Enrique admits Barcelona “lacked clarity and fluency” during their 2-1 defeat to Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga on Sunday.
Barca seemingly handed the title initiative to Real Madrid, who will move five points clear at the top if they win both of their games in hand, after goals from ex-Blanco Joselu and Alex Bergantinos at Riazor cancelled out Luis Suarez’s equaliser.
“We had little time to think, it wasn’t a day to be very fluent and we lacked clarity in the last few yards,” the Coach said after the game.
“It was a shame because we expected this type of match. It was important to confirm our upturn in form and that we were in a line of forcefulness.
“We knew that it was going to be difficult, we knew it beforehand, but we started well, taking advantage of our opponents’ deep-lying tactics and posing them danger.
“Still, we didn’t have the fluency to overcome them and were penalised for our mistakes.
“The lead was decisive, and it was them who took it. After that, we equalised and we could’ve scored again, but it wasn’t possible.
“We continued to create transitions. There’s nothing to justify in the face of defeat other than to accept it and think that there are still many games left.
“In the last few games, the teams near the bottom are picking up many more points than before.
“There won’t be any easy games for anyone and that’s what we’re clinging to.
“We’re also forced to have a very good final stretch of the season in order to be in with a chance of winning trophies.
“A state of euphoria is always better than pessimism. I’ve seen this team to be conscientious.”