Luis Enrique suggested the match officials had failed to
"make sure this is football and not American football" during
Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.
The visitors had two players sent off in the second half at
Camp Nou and nine others - four of whom play for Barcelona
- received a yellow card.
The Barca boss refused to directly accuse the referee and
his assistants of losing control over the match but reiterated
that it is their responsibility to ensure tension does not boil
over.
"The limits are set by the referees," Luis Enrique told
reporters. "Those are the ones who are in charge of making
sure this is football and not American football.
"Tonight there was intensity and tension but it’s the match
officials who mark the limits."
When asked if he felt Espanyol had gone beyond those
limits, he replied: "I’m not going to go into that.
"[I am only concerned] about the things that distance us
from playing football. What we’re looking to do is play.
When someone oversteps the mark, there’s a referee.
"I’m concerned about the anti-sport side. We’re both teams
who have our own tendencies and you have to understand
that from a positive point of view."
The 45-year-old was similarly tight-lipped when asked about
shouting coming from the dressing rooms after the match,
deadpanning: "That was Christmas carols."
Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal made their long-awaited debuts
for Barcelona following the lifting of the club's transfer ban
and Luis Enrique praised their performances.
"I was pleased with Arda and Aleix, it’s clear that it’s been
while since both of them last competed," he said. "They
gave us solutions and Aleix put in some very good minutes."
The former Roma coach admitted that he was struggling to
describe the quality of Andres Iniesta at the end of another
virtuoso midfield display.
"It’s very difficult to pick out just one of his qualities," he
enthused. "He possesses a unique peripheral vision - like
Xavi.
"I’ve never known anybody who is able to see what’s behind
him. He’s a magical player and an unrepeatable one."
"make sure this is football and not American football" during
Barcelona's 4-1 victory over Espanyol in the Copa del Rey.
The visitors had two players sent off in the second half at
Camp Nou and nine others - four of whom play for Barcelona
- received a yellow card.
his assistants of losing control over the match but reiterated
that it is their responsibility to ensure tension does not boil
over.
"The limits are set by the referees," Luis Enrique told
reporters. "Those are the ones who are in charge of making
sure this is football and not American football.
"Tonight there was intensity and tension but it’s the match
officials who mark the limits."
When asked if he felt Espanyol had gone beyond those
limits, he replied: "I’m not going to go into that.
"[I am only concerned] about the things that distance us
from playing football. What we’re looking to do is play.
When someone oversteps the mark, there’s a referee.
"I’m concerned about the anti-sport side. We’re both teams
who have our own tendencies and you have to understand
that from a positive point of view."
The 45-year-old was similarly tight-lipped when asked about
shouting coming from the dressing rooms after the match,
deadpanning: "That was Christmas carols."
Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal made their long-awaited debuts
for Barcelona following the lifting of the club's transfer ban
and Luis Enrique praised their performances.
"I was pleased with Arda and Aleix, it’s clear that it’s been
while since both of them last competed," he said. "They
gave us solutions and Aleix put in some very good minutes."
The former Roma coach admitted that he was struggling to
describe the quality of Andres Iniesta at the end of another
virtuoso midfield display.
"It’s very difficult to pick out just one of his qualities," he
enthused. "He possesses a unique peripheral vision - like
Xavi.
"I’ve never known anybody who is able to see what’s behind
him. He’s a magical player and an unrepeatable one."
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