FC Barcelona made no mistake in the title fight on Wednesday evening by beating citymate Espanyol 1-0, but the game of the Catalans again left something to be desired. Trainer Quique Setién thinks the criticism of his team is a bit too easy.
“We certainly didn’t play a great game. It was effective rather than brilliant, but Espanyol’s very defensive play also made it very difficult for us”, Setién defended his team’s game Brand at his press conference.
FC Barcelona had shown a better side on Sunday evening by beating Villarreal 1-4. With that, the troubled Catalans seemed to have started their way up, but against Espanyol, the Setién team hardly got through this season.
“It is not always easy, especially if you meet an opponent who does not want to play football himself,” said Setién. “Villarreal is a team that just wants a lot of the ball and that creates spaces on the field. Espanyol was very defensive. And see how to create opportunities when so many people are in front of the goal.”
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FC Barcelona was with too much effort too strong for Espanyol. (Photo: Pro Shots)
Setién does not blame Fati after a dramatic substitution
In the first half, Barcelona did not even manage to fire a single shot on goal, but after half-time Luis Suárez still made the liberating hit by shooting from close range. For the former Ajax player, it was his fifteenth league goal of the season.
Six minutes before that 1-0, Barcelona had to deal with a big downer by the direct red card of Ansu Fati, who put his foot in the leg of Fernando Calero during a game for the ball. Setién brought Fati into the field four minutes earlier as a tactical substitution.
“The red card from Ansu was very unfortunate, because he could have helped us to make the spaces bigger”, the coach regretted. “Now we have to wait for his sanction, but I don’t blame him for that. He went for the ball and even wanted to withdraw his leg. Unfortunately, something like that can happen.”
Barcelona remains in the footsteps of leader Real Madrid, who has one point more and will play against Deportivo Alavés on Friday evening. Barcelona’s win also meant that Espanyol is relegated from La Liga for the first time in 27 years.
View the program, the results and the position in La Liga
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