Barca still has some work to do
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said missed chances have left his squad with still some work to do to reach a fourth consecutive Spanish King’s Cup final despite taking a 2-1 semifinal first-leg lead over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Sensational strikes by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi had Barca cruising at halftime at Vicente Calderon stadium, but Antoine Griezmann pulled a goal back for an inspired Atletico after the break before Neymar blew a huge opportunity to restore Barca’s two-goal lead.
“If we had been more efficient with the quality we have in this team we could have taken our chances better and had a different second leg,” said Enrique.
Barca will be without Neymar for the return leg on Tuesday as he picked up his third yellow card in the Cup this season in the second half.
“We knew we had to score here,” said Suarez.
“That was important and we got two, but it is not at all finished.”
It was a tale of two halves as Barca dominated in the first 45 minutes with Suarez’s sensational solo run and finish after seven minutes added to by Mes- si’s thunderous 20-yard strike.
“I think we started the tie very well, knowing how difficult it is to play here at the Calderon,” said Enrique.
“We made sure they couldn’t create any attacks, we kept the ball in their half, created a lot of chances and were very efficient.
“In the second half, given the result, Atletico had to attack. They pressed us much more and caused a lot more problems.
“But it would be naive or ridiculous to think you can come here and not suffer.”
Messi was once again a class apart as he constantly shredded Atletico’s defense, on top of firing home his 30th goal in 29 games this season.
“The big games are when you see the best Leo Messi,” said Enrique.
“He showed us his full repetoire. His dribbling, generating superiority in midfield, giving assists and scoring goals.
“There are few new superlatives for Messi.”
Four previous two-legged ties between the teams over the past three seasons were split.
Atletico looked far more like the side Diego Simeone has made a serial contender for trophies over the past five years after the introduction of Fernando Torres at halftime.
“We spoke at halftime and I think in the second half we got close to playing like the team we have always been,” said Simeone.
“I am left with that positive feeling. We were close to a draw, we fronted up against all the difficulties in the first half.”
However, for all his achievements, Simeone is yet to win at Camp Nou as Atletico boss and is aware the odds are very much against Los Rojiblancos reaching the final.
“I don’t know what percentage chance we have,” he added.
“Even if it is 20 percent, we will give everything we have to make that 20 percent count.”