Luis Enrique praise for Celta Vigo after Barcelona suffer first defeat
Thursday 24 September 2015 08:26, UK
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique paid tribute to Celta Vigo after they ended the champions' perfect start to the season in spectacular style.
Iago Aspas struck twice on Wednesday night as Barca slumped to a 4-1 defeat and slipped below unbeaten Celta in La Liga.
Former Barca youngster Nolito was also on target with a stunning opener and substitute John Guidetti wrapped up victory after a Neymar consolation.
The Catalans did create numerous chances in an open and entertaining contest, but poor defending let them down as they were repeatedly caught on the break.
"This game goes to show just how difficult La Liga is," said Enrique afterwards. "What decided this game is how well Celta played. It was highly effective football from them. It was very good.
"We tried to create problems, but we suffered a lot in one-on-one situations. When a team has played better than you, then there is nothing much that you can say.
"I'd rather lose to a team that plays like Celta did today, without any tricks, purely winning through their football. I congratulate them and hope they can carry on playing like that."
Enrique felt there were positives from his side's play but urged them to start taking their chances. Barca did test Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez several times, while Lionel Messi also hit the post.
"In terms of intensity, we did well," he said. "We had six or seven chances to score. The problem is that in the first games of this season we have been struggling to turn those chances into goals."
Celta coach Eduardo Berizzo was not getting carried away despite his team's "spectacular" result.
"We won a great game against a great team, but our feet are on the ground as there remains a long way to go," the Argentinian was quoted as saying at his post-match press conference.
"Today, football and the fans were winners. We honour football. The players delighted the crowd with a spectacular game. If there is a way to win, that is always the chosen way.
"We are the winners, but this game reaffirms our way of playing football."
