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LaLiga: Barcelona's Luis Enrique humbled by Alaves

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has claimed he is responsible for the shock 2-1 home LaLiga defeat to Deportivo Alaves.

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With a Champions League clash against Celtic coming up on Tuesday, Luis Enrique made wholesale changes to his line-up, with both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez benched, though Neymar did start following his return from a successful Olympic campaign with Brazil.

However, Barca fell behind shortly before half-time when Deyverson slotted home from close range, and despite an equaliser from Jeremy Mathieu – who should have netted a second soon after – it was Alaves who took the points when Ibai Gomez drilled in following a slaloming run.

And Luis Enrique was quick to admit his mistakes, indicating he underestimated Mauricio Pellegrino's side.

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"It all pointed to us as being the favourite, but this stumbling serves to remind [us] how hard it is to land a victory," he said.

"In the victories there is talk of key individual players, but in the defeats there is only the talk about the coach.

"I am responsible for the defeat. A defeat that serves to make us learn and think. We were wrong, inaccurate – they scored two goals from three attempts.

"I am the head of all the bad things that happen. Many of the changes were a result of circumstances that surround us. I try to get the best out of all my team.

"I had not had contemplated the option Alaves played with, 5-4-1, he [Pellegrino] had not used it up to now. It was difficult for us against opponents [who] we have to congratulate."

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