Barcelona can turn European pain into El Clasico gains, says Enrique
BARCELONA boss Luis Enrique insists that his final season at the helm can still end in glory despite bowing out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage to Juventus.
Juventus held on to their 3-0 first leg lead to progress to the last four by blunting Barca’s star-studded attack in a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
Neymar left the field in tears, but around the Camp Nou there was appreciation for Barca’s valiant effort by the near 100,000 crowd.
“It’s a sad night, but we tried until the last minute and that was recognised by the fans at the end,” said Enrique, who will step down at the end of the campaign.
“This is [a] team that never gives up, that fights for every title, doesn’t relax and always accepts the challenge. It is a joy to belong to a club like this.”
Barca travel to face eternal rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday night (at 1:45am Cambodian time) realistically needing to win to maintain their hopes of a third straight La Liga title.
Real lead by three points at the top of the table, but also have a game in hand.
“Barca have a team built to compete, to win trophies and to face every challenge,” Enrique added.
“It is clear we are very hurt to be eliminated from a competition that excites us so much, but now comes a key game against the leaders and a direct rival.
“We have to get ready to compete and I am sure we will do that.”
Barca will be without Neymar at the Bernabeu through suspension, and the Catalans will need Lionel Messi back in top form as the Argentine was off target with the only two clear chances the hosts created on Wednesday.
“We had 13 or 14 shots, but I think only one was on target, which are the ones that tend to do damage,” Enrique said.
Juventus are now in the last four for the second time in three years under coach Massimiliano Allegri.
However, he believes they are far more equipped to win the Champions League for a third time than when they lost to Barca in the final two years ago.
“The self-belief of the team has grown a lot,” said Allegri. “There are only two players who started tonight who started the final in Berlin. That says a lot of how well the club has recruited. We are desperate to go as far as we can and achieve something extraordinar y.”
Juve believe
Barca defender Gerard Pique recognised that Juventus had deserved to go through over the two legs.
“Overall they were the better team and deserved to go through,” he told BeIN Sports Spain. “Little by little we started to create chances, but they built a mountain. It wasn’t to be.”
And Pique a lso ca lled on the Barca players to reward t he fans’ support at f ull-time wit h v ictor y in t he Clasico.
“That the fans were still singing needs to be remembered. I think it is one of the few times I have seen the Camp Nou like that in a defeat. It moved me and makes me proud,” he added.
“We will go to the Bernabeu to compete and try to win.
“In the last few years it has been good to us. We are not in our best moment, but we can win.”
Juventus showed why they boast t he best defensive record in t he competition as Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all blunted as t he Ita lians gained revenge for their defeat in the 2015 Champions League final.
“To not concede a goal in two games against Barcelona says a lot about the tactical level of the team,” said Juve boss Allegri.
“They had more chances in Turin than they did tonight. The team defended very solidly tonight.”
Juventus join holders Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Monaco in today’s semifinal draw.
Juventus comfortably saw out the final stages to register their eighth clean sheet in 10 Champions League games this season.
And the only negative news to come of the night for the Bianconeri was a yellow card for Sami Khedira that will rule the German international out of the first leg of their semi.