Camp Nou (Barcelona) [Spain], Sept. 11 : Taking the blame for his side's shocking 1-2 defeat at the hands of recently-promoted Deportivo Alaves, Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has pointed out that number of changes in the squad led to the present circumstances.
Admitting that his side were inaccurate during the La Liga match in Camp Nou, Enrique said he hopes the defeat would serve as a learning curve for Barcelona.
"I am the head of all the bad things that happen. Many of the changes were a result of circumstances that surround us. I try to get the best out of all my team," the Spaniard was quoted as saying by goal.com. Congratulating Alaves for the victory, the 46-year-old coach admitted that their opponents had sprung a tactical surprise during the match.
"It all pointed to us as being the favourite, but this stumbling serves to remind [us] how hard it is to land a victory.
I had not had contemplated the option Alaves played with, 5-4-1, he [Pellegrino] had not used it up to now.
It was difficult for us against opponents [who] we have to congratulate," Enrique said. The coach kept star strikers Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the bench with an eye on upcoming Champions League clash against Celtic, but handed a start to Neymar following his return from the Rio Olympics.
Although Messi and Saurez were later brought as substitutes, it was not enough to seal victory against Alaves, who took the lead twice through Deyverson and Ibai Gomez.
Barcelona, who stumbled to an embarrassing first defeat of the season, will now lock horns with Leganes on September 17.
Source: ANI
