Barcelona was eliminated this Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Champions League after losing to Atlético de Madrid, a result that left a bitter taste in the Barça team. After the match, coach Hansi Flick expressed his displeasure at the elimination, although he highlighted the performance and attitude of his players.
“We are disappointed. We played a fantastic game in the first halfand. We have deserved more. We deserved to be in the semifinals. I am grateful for the mentality of the players. I am proud of them,” said the German coach at a press conference.
Flick avoided entering into referee controversies, despite the expulsion of Éric García in the 77th minute and the goal disallowed by Ferran Torres in the 55th minute. “I don’t want to talk about the referee. Surely you are interested, but not me. I just want to congratulate my players,” he stated.
With the European elimination completed, the culé coach made it clear that the objective is now focused on the League. “The sooner we are champions, the better. It doesn’t matter if it’s the day of the Classic. The important thing is to be,” he stressed.
The coach insisted that the team leaves hurt, but with its head held high. “We leave disappointed because we believed we were going to advance to the semifinals and we played to achieve it. I am proud of my players. They played a great game. We will return,” he concluded.
For his part, midfielder Pablo Páez, “Gavi”, shared the feeling of the locker room and considered that Barcelona was superior to its rival, although he regretted the lack of effectiveness in front of goal. “The referees haven’t benefited us much, but that’s no excuse. It’s like that, it’s football and that’s it. “We have been much better, but in the end the ball has to go in,” declared to Movistar+.
Gavi also referred to some controversial actions at the meeting. Regarding his elbow to Matteo Ruggeri, he said that “it was yellow or not even yellow”, while regarding the expulsion of Éric García he noted that “Jules (Koundé) was next to him. He can whistle red or not whistle it. In the end he has decided this and that’s it.”
Barcelona is out of the Champions League, but with the conviction of having competed at the highest level and with its sights set on closing the season with the League title.