LONDON (REUTERS) - Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets apologised to the club's fans after his side were sent tumbling out of the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday (May 7), losing 4-0 to a rampant Liverpool side for a remarkable 4-3 aggregate defeat.
It is the second year in a row Barca have thrown away a three-goal lead from the first leg to exit the competition, having been knocked out in the quarter-finals by Roma last season following a 3-0 surrender in the Italian capital.
"They were better than us, they went all out to win the game from the start and we really struggled with their pressure especially at the start of both halves," a despondent Busquets told reporters.
"I can't say anything else, all I can do is say sorry to our supporters because after last year in Rome, to go out like this after such a good result in the first leg is very tough, there's little else to say."
Barca had looked on course to reach the final for the first time since 2015 after Lionel Messi inspired them to a 3-0 win in the first leg, but they were overwhelmed by Liverpool's pressure and went behind in the seventh minute to Divock Origi's strike.
Busquets said his side were powerless to cope with Liverpool's pressing game.
"Once they scored and they pressed us high, it was very difficult. I think we had the chance to score the goal that we needed, but it wasn't to be," the midfielder said.
Â
Â
Â
"When you face a team like this which presses you very high up the pitch and you don't make the most of second balls, they just keep pushing further forward and, with this atmosphere, it was very difficult."
Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice in the space of two minutes early in the second half to level the tie on aggregate.
Origi then put Liverpool ahead in the tie for the first time thanks to some quick thinking from Trent Alexander-Arnold from a corner which caught Barca unawares.
"The fourth goal was a mistake from everyone as we were all taken by surprise. They were more clever than us to take the corner quickly and then they played by themselves," Busquets added.
"If we'd have scored, it would have changed everything, we had the chances to do it, now it's very difficult to think of things to say."
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul. Football: Despite squad overhaul, Albirex Niigata's target for new season is still to 'win all the titles'
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite
Harry Kane will start the Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid having been passed fit to play for Tottenham. The striker has not featured since April 9 but returns to the starting team.
Kane starts for Tottenham in Champions League final - Daily
Leicester welcome Rodgers with win, Newcastle end Burnley run. New Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers watched on from the stands as the Foxes beat Brighton 2-1, while Newcastle pulled further clear
Leicester welcome Rodgers with a win, Newcastle end Burnley
Eric Harrison, the former youth team coach of Manchester United's 'Class of 92', which included David Beckham and Ryan Giggs, has died aged 81, the club announced on Thursday. Harrison, who helped forge the fledgling careers of Beckham, Giggs,
Breaking news headlines about Video Assistant Referees linking to 1,000s of websites from around the world
Jurgen Klopp has vowed that Liverpool will remain positive as they battle for the Premier League title despite a wobble that has enabled Manchester City to seize the initiative. Liverpool's destiny is no longer in their own hands after a goalless draw in Sunday's Merseyside derby allowed Pep Guardiola's City to regain top spot with a one-point
Liverpool staying positive despite blip, says Klopp | Sport24
THE Premier League voiced "significant concerns" over potential reforms to the Champions League yesterday, saying the changes would damage the thriving domestic game. Reported reforms being
Premier League voices fears over proposed UCL reforms
LONDON (REUTERS) - Defender Jan Vertonghen scored once and set up another goal for Son Heung-min as Tottenham Hotspur beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday (Feb 13) to give
Vertonghen shines as Tottenham beat Dortmund 3-0 - Cyprus Mail
Football: After goalie Casillas' heart attack, wife Sara says
Solskjaer aims for 3rd LONDON • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged his Manchester United players to get 15 points from the final six games to secure a top-three finish that will guarantee Champions League football.
Solskjaer aims to revive Ferguson's fearless style
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League with a confident 3-0 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday. The win moves Juergen Klopps's side three points above second-placed
Premier League: Liverpool back on top after dominant win over
The TV, live streaming and radio listings are legal broadcasts of Tampines Rovers - Home United in United States. Authentication or subscription with a TV, ISP or streaming provider may be required. Please note that not all channels are available to watch online. If available online, we will link to the official stream provider above before
Tampines Rovers FC Singapore statistics, table, results, fixtures
0 comments:
Post a Comment