Frank Rijkaard admits Barcelona were made to suffer by Real Madrid on Wednesday, but refused to talk about the defeat as a humiliation.

Barca's hopes of pipping Villarreal to second spot behind newly-crowned champions Real Madrid were crushed in stunning style by a 4-1 loss in the Spanish capital.

It was Barca's heaviest league defeat in over three years and means they are now 17 points behind arch-rivals Madrid and, more importantly, seven behind second-placed Villarreal with only two games to go.

"It is clear that we played a bad game," said Rijkaard.

"Today you have seen the difference between a team who have won something and a team who have suffered and have not won anything.

"The team have suffered a lot and it has been one of the worst moments of the season. As a team we did not show much force.

"In games like that we all have to fight and by that I mean attack and defend together, and we have not done it well."

The under-pressure Dutchman, whose job, according to reports in the Spanish press, will be going to reserve team coach Josep Guardiola at the end of the season, refused to comment on whether his team had been humiliated.

"I don't want to talk about humiliation or ridicule," he added. "We have played badly they have been better.

"It is blow and is another addition to the disappointments that we have had. Everyone in the dressing room is very sad."

When asked about his future, Rijkaard said: "The easiest thing is not to continue, but I am part of the group, I am the coach and I have no ideas in this regard.

"In these moments I only want to talk about the game."

Barca do not have long to drown their sorrows as they have another match coming up on Sunday when they host Real Mallorca, and Rijkaard admits it is probably a good thing they are playing again so soon.

"It's best to face another game quickly. We have to get all our motivation. It will not be easy but we must do it and we have to play well," he added.

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