Barcelona manager Luis Enrique says his team were the better side which missed out on three points following the 1-1 draw against Real Madrid
Luis Enrique
ADVERTISEMENT
Barcelona: FC Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has asserted that his team deserved to win and blamed the players for wasting chances following the draw against arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Nou Camp Stadium here.
Barcelona had taken the lead eight minutes into the second half on Saturday evening thanks to a Luis Suarez strike. But Real Madrid managed to snatch a point from the 'El Classico' when Sergio Ramos found a last minute equaliser. "In the second half, we were the better side, but we didn't manage to get the second (goal) and they ended up equalising. That said, we deserved to win.
"It is not the best result for us. It was a very even first half and a second that we were better, we created chances. We continued looking for the second to avoid being levelled, but we were unable to do so," a bitter Enrique said after the match.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi wears a dejected look as Real Madrid players celebrate Sergio Ramos' equaliser during the La Liga match at Camp Nou in Barcelona on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
'A different second half'
"In the first half we saw two good teams trying to control the ball, an equal duel without real chances, with a lot of tension and evenness. The second was different, we created chances, we took the lead via a set play, and then we continued having the ball, wanting the second goal and controlling the game," the former Spain international was quoted as saying by the FC Barcelona website. Following Saturday's result, Real Madrid continue to lead the Spanish top flight standings with 34 points from 14 matches.
Late goal not a win: Zidane
Barcelona are at the second spot with 28 points, one ahead of third placed Sevilla. Zinedine Zidane insisted Real Madrid's draw did not "taste like a victory". "It is just one point, it does not taste like a victory. It is a good point, and we keep picking them up. I don't believe this is a blow for Barca's morale.
"We have a six-point lead, but it does not change anything. We must keep working, this is a very long season," the Frenchman told reporters at a press conference. What stands out for me is the work of the whole team. In the end, Sergio was there to score the goal," he said.
