Barcelona head coach, Hansi Flick, has expressed his belief that his side did enough to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals despite their elimination by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The Catalan club secured a 2-1 win in the second leg at the Metropolitano Stadium, but it was not enough to overturn a 2-0 defeat suffered in the first leg at home, resulting in a 3-2 aggregate exit from the competition.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres gave Barcelona hope with goals that put them in control on the night.
However, a response from Ademola Lookman brought Atletico Madrid back into the tie, and that strike ultimately proved decisive in sealing Barcelona’s elimination.
Reflecting on the performance, Flick insisted his team deserved more from the two-legged contest.
“We played a fantastic first half, (but) we have to score more goals. It was really possible, (but) we conceded the goal we didn’t expect at this moment,” Flick told reporters (via RFI).
“When you see both matches we deserved to get to the semi-final. The mentality, the attitude they showed on the pitch — I’m really proud about that.”
Despite the disappointment of going out, the German coach praised his squad’s effort but admitted the result was painful.
“We have to learn (from) these things, what we have to do, but we have a young team and I think we will improve next season,” said the German coach.
“Every day we have to learn more, we have to be better and this is what we have to do,” he continued.
“It’s very disappointing for everyone and I am also disappointed. It’s football, it’s life, and we have to come back.”
Barcelona ended both legs with ten men after the dismissals of young defender Pau Cubarsi in the first leg and Eric Garcia in the return fixture in Madrid, further compounding their Champions League exit from the UEFA Champions League.
