JAKARTA - Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil admitted that his team experienced difficulties when facing Barcelona at home on Thursday even though his team came with the capital nine times unbeaten in La Liga.
Sociedad had to give up with the score 1-2 despite taking the lead through Brazilian striker Willian Jose in the 27th minute, but Barcelona hit back four minutes later with Jordi Alba's gentle right-footed shot.
"We saw the best Barca we have seen for a long time, especially defending," said Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil on the YouTube channel Real Sociedad TV.
"That's their praise and the respect they have for this match. We haven't seen Barca this aggressive for a long time. Even Messi has to fall to win tackles."
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman praised his side's attitude and intensity after the win over Real Sociedad when the Catalans finally came back to their feet after a bad start to the season.
"The first half was incredible, we should have scored more goals. We were intense, we put them under a lot of pressure and we had to fight hard," Koeman told a post-match press conference.
"Real Sociedad are very good at possession, but we kept winning, we pressed them very well. It was an open game because our opponents knew how to play very well, but the game was ours and it was a deserved win."
Lionel Messi did not score and failed several times to provide key passes, but Koeman said he was happy with the captain's hard work.
"This is a team I want to see. Every player plays out of their skin. The biggest difference is our game without the ball today, and Messi worked very hard on it, pressed a lot, and so did everyone," added the Dutchman. the.
"That's the attitude we have to have when we don't have the ball."
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