Luis Enrique: This victory is a real morale boost for Barcelona

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique celebrated his team’s victory over Atletico Madrid as a morale boost for the team ahead of a decisive stage of the season.

“Beating a direct rival is a very positive morale boost for the players and for everyone,” he said after the 2-1 win at the Vicente Calderon. 

“It’s important to get closer to the position we want.” 

He explained that Barcelona used a formation “3-4-3 with a diamond to have more ball possession and control of the game”, but said that it went back to 4-4-2 when they didn’t have it. 

The coach said that the pitch was “terrible for ball circulation but we benefitted for the goals and Atletico, in the one transition they had in the second half, it hurt them”.

“In the first half it was hard against their press, but it’s impossible to maintain that having played Champions League in the week, later in the second half more of our important players appeared.

“It was a hard-fought victory and difficult. In the first half it was harder and in the second their press was not as high and didn’t have the same effect and we gained confidence. It’s evident that the change of system is a way of stopping the opponent knowing what you are going to do.

“We were better in the second half, because in the first we lost the ball too much. But in general I am satisfied for three points against a direct rival. We looked for the points and in the end we got a deserved reward.”