Barcelona full-back Lucas Digne has said that his side’s 4-0 Champions League victory over Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday was the ideal remedy to get over their Clasico disappointment.
Barca were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Real Madrid last weekend, with a late Sergio Ramos header denying them maximum points and the opportunity to cut the deficit at the summit of La Liga to just three points.
In midweek, though, Luis Enrique put his faith in a young squad and watched them romp to an emphatic win courtesy of a goal from Lionel Messi and a treble from Arda Turan.
"The best medicine after a disappointment is a great team performance and a convincing victory, so now we have moved on," Digne told 'Goal'.
"We were disappointed right after El Clasico, because they scored such a late goal. We felt that we deserved a win, but we didn’t get it".
As a defender, he was delighted to help his side earn a cleansheet in that clash, but nearly got an assist to boot, as visiting goalkeeper Yann Sommer had to look alert to prevent Messi from heading home a pinpoint cross.
"In my position on the pitch my first job is defence, and a clean sheet feels like scoring a goal for all defenders,” he said. "In Italy they are the masters of organising a defence, and I learned a lot about defending, especially when I was at Roma with Luciano Spalletti and his coaching staff.
"But of course in Barca - like at Roma - I am also an extra player in attack. I want to be a part of the decisive situations in attack - just like I was in Italy".
Although Jordi Alba is fit again, the France international continues to be extensively used by Luis Enrique and has played more minutes than any other summer signing. He is pleased to have been given such opportunities.
"I was bought as a part of a new Barca generation. We all need to deliver on the pitch from day one, because at Barca you are in the best team of the world, so you must win every game you play,” he said. “I enjoy that kind of positive pressure. I believe that it makes me grow as a player.
"As a person I always want to win, and we all do - that is why we are here.
"I am only 23, but I have a lot of experience already, and I am here to work hard with this fantastic squad and develop myself so I will be a part of a beautiful Barca future. I am happy to have played so many games already, because that shows the confidence of my coach".
Barcelona have kept eight cleansheets in 13 matches in which Digne has played over an hour – a superior ratio to Alba, his main rival for the left-back berth.