The FC Barcelona head coach lauded Deportivo for their courageous strategy and said it teaches his team that games aren’t over until the final whistle
Luis Enrique didn’t need a crystal ball to tell him the obvious. He knew that Deportivo were sixth in La Liga. He knew they had only lost just once on the road this season. He knew they were not the same team Barça played last year.
But despite the coach’s repeated words of caution, it wasn’t enough. FC Barcelona squandered two late goals after going up 2–0, letting two points evaporate into the night.
Here’s what Luis Enrique had to say after the game:
On Deportivo’s approach:
“Tactically it was a very different game from what we are accustomed to. They put three players up high to create pressure and went with a seven on seven game in their half. We had everything under control until the thirty-minute mark of the second half.”
“Deportivo had a brave strategy and in the end the result shows that it worked out for them.”
On not letting up:
“It just goes to show that games aren’t over even when you are up 2–0.”
“It isn’t the result that we deserved but it shows that we have to be plugged in for all 90 minutes.”
“I didn’t see any of my players sit back and relax.”
On when and why the game slipped away:
“When it’s 2–1 the opponent feels braver and with a better chance. We had a great chance to make it 3–1 with Munir, that could have closed out the game, but that’s the way it is.”
“It was under control because we were good defensively until the last fifteen minutes.”
On whether the substitutions affected the outcome:
“Yes, maybe we did expect more from our substitutions. I do like making changes, and it depends on how I see the game. That’s on me.”