News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 9 years ago
Home  » Sports » Why the Barcelona coach is 'SUFFERING'

Why the Barcelona coach is 'SUFFERING'

May 13, 2015 10:16 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

‘I have suffered, I have suffered in each and every round’

Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique the head coach of Barcelona directs his players. Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique saw his team beat Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate to reach their eighth European Cup final on Tuesday, but said it had been a nerve-racking experience having to watch their stellar run from the sidelines.

Champions League PHOTOS: Barcelona book their place in final

PHOTOS: Check out the celebration of champions!

The Catalans are in the running for a treble of titles in the coach's first season in charge and Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Bayern allowed them to advance to the final for the first time since 2011 courtesy of their 3-0 first-leg win.

While their stunning football has been a pleasure to watch for both fans and neutrals this season, the coach confessed it had not been so enjoyable from the dugout.

"I have suffered, I have suffered in each and every round," he said.

Barcelona have encountered little resistance in Europe having eased past Manchester City and Paris St Germain in the previous rounds.

They have found goals easy to come by with their South American trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in sensational form, scoring 25 times between them in the competition.

"We don't need to talk about the trio's qualities. They understand each other very well. They have a solidarity and it is extremely difficult to control them," Luis Enrique said.

Neymar

Neymar celebrates with Luis Suarez after scoring the first goal for Barcelona. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Neymar scored twice in Munich to ease some of the coach's suffering as Barca led 2-1 at halftime.

"We brought a good result to Munich but Bayern took the lead and we reacted well after that," the coach added.

"We levelled and we created chances. The team was good and had the lead at halftime. The second half was physical and the Bayern players fought and wanted to turn the game."

Neymar's goals, however, meant Bayern needed to score five more and despite netting twice through Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski, Barca confidently hung on to secure a ticket to the final in Berlin next month.

They are also one win away from clinching the Spanish league title and are through to the Spanish Cup final.

"We have reached a wonderful goal. We forced them to take risks and I am very satisfied with our performance," said the Barca coach.

"We are now just one game away from each of the three titles and it is a great feeling. We now have to reach those goals."

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

New Zealand's tour of India 2024

New Zealand's Tour Of India, 2024