Barcelona v Atletico Madrid, Tuesday April 5, 10.45pm UAE
Ever the pragmatist, Luis Enrique dealt with questions after Saturday's clasico defeat in the way which has come to define his style. He does not get too close to journalists; he does not favour one publication over another.
The Barcelona coach shows little of his fascinating personality, tells too few anecdotes and likes to keep control and keep his players making headlines.
Perhaps he thinks this will preserve his longevity when things do not go as well as they have done during his glorious spell so far at Camp Nou.
Enrique responds to sarcastic questions with sarcasm and emotional ones with pragmatism. After his team were beaten for the first time in 40 games by Real Madrid, Enrique was asked how he felt about Real Madrid winning on an emotive night remembering Johann Cruyff.
“That doesn’t make me feel especially bad,” he said dispassionately. “That’s the way football is.”
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He had no grand explanation for Madrid winning and ending Barca’s winning run either, stating: “What happened is what can happen in any game. One day it had to happen and it happened today.
“Now we have to prepare the Champions League (v Atletico on Tuesday night), rest and keep going. I hope it’s an isolated episode. We have been the most consistent until now, but we have to maintain that.”
What Enrique is doing is taking air out of unrealistic expectations. His team are the best in the world and remain favourites to retain Primera Liga, the Uefa Champions League and the Copa del Rey, but they are not going to win the treble season after season.
It just does not happen.
Too many things can go wrong, especially in knockout competitions or one-off games. No team in football has even managed to retain the European Cup/Champions League since AC Milan in 1990 — and there have been some great teams since then, the best being Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side which won it twice in three years.
Barca are used to April being a month of massive games and they face an Atletico Madrid side on Tuesday night which they have beaten twice already this season.
Barca may be at home, but they w ill not be wearing their usual colours as Uefa are forcing both clubs to wear different kits in both games to avoid a clash.
Fernando Torres will start Tuesday’s game at Camp Nou for Atletico, back to the venue where he scored a goal for Chelsea which knocked holders Barcelona out of the 2012 Champions League.
Atletico eliminated Barca when they met in the last eight of the 2014 competition. They have also closed the gap at the top of La Liga to six points after Saturday’s 5-1 win over Real Betis was combined with Barca’s defeat by Real Madrid. Yet the Catalans are still favourites to reach the semi-finals.
Gerard Pique, who scored the clasico’s opening goal, spoke to the media on Monday and said: “It will be tougher than Saturday’s game. It’ll be even. We have to control the ball from the first minute, suffocate them, have the fans behind us.
“We’ll do everything we can to make the final. Nobody is more convinced than we are. It might rain a bit, but Nou Camp will be full. We’ll all get wet but it’ll be worth it.
“We’re facing a tough opponent that knows how to defend. Playing at home makes us strong. We hope to have a lot of scoring chances with home-field advantage. We’re not afraid.”
Barca are seldom afraid and their players looked relaxed in training.
Atletico use inferior talents, but there is no better organised side in world football than Diego Simeone’s.
Two consecutive home defeats to Madrid giants is not something Barca would anticipate. They will have to be at their best to avoid that happening.
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