Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted that it would be difficult for his side to pull off another great escape after they again suffered a heavy first-leg defeat in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday.
Having overcome a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round with a 6-1 win at home, Barca contrived to lose 3-0 at Juventus in their quarter-final first leg in Turin.
“This time, it’s more difficult to believe in a comeback,” said Luis Enrique. “It was like reliving a nightmare ... I can’t get the first half out of my head.”
Paulo Dybala scored twice to put Juve 2-0 ahead inside 22 minutes and defender Giorgio Chiellini headed in the third early in the second half in a rousing performance by the Italians.
__________________________________
More Champions League
■ In pictures: Messi dejected as Barca throttled 3-0
■ Bayern Munich: Ancelotti gets chance to show up Real Madrid
■ Atletico v Leicester: Toughest of matchups for English upstarts
__________________________________
“It’s difficult to pull off another turnaround like the one against Paris Saint-Germain, although on the other hand I also thought it was unlikely that we could lose again like we did against the French team,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“It was a very difficult first half, very similar to the one in Paris, and although we improved after halftime, the first half was full of problems.”
“It’s difficult for a coach to try to do everything right for the team and then realise that he hasn’t succeeded,” he added.
“I don’t really want to think about it now. Tomorrow will be the time to get up again and think that we have to score three goals to level the tie and four to win it.”
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri wanted to make sure his team did not get carried away with one of their best performances under his leadership.
“We have to put some brakes on our enthusiasm,” he said. “Of course, the lads have produced a great performance, both in attack and in defence.
“But it’s just the first step. In Barcelona, it will be different and we have to try to score a goal.”
* Reuters
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport