Ernesto Valverde had no time for excuses as his side slipped to a 2-0 La Liga defeat away at Celta Vigo on Saturday night.
With the La Liga title secured last weekend at home to Levante, the former Athletic Bilbao boss wanted to keep as many first team players as fresh as possible for next week's Champions League semi final second leg at Anfield.
He rested eight players in between the two legs in the previous round against Manchester United rested his entire first eleven for the trip to Galacia – and he fringe players struggled to make an impact.
"There some positives we can take, but we struggled in the second half.
"After the break we did not have the ability to force a way into the game.
"Once they scored, they were able to control us defensively, and we had no answer."
He did introduce Arturo Vidal in the second half, but confirmed he was reluctant to risk Phiilippe Coutinho from the bench ahead of the trip to England in midweek to face Jurgen Klopp's side.
