Hansi Flick reflected on a Champions League quarter-final exit against Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona broke the resistance quickly at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, exploiting an error from Clement Lenglet to score in the 4th minute through Lamine Yamal. Dani Olmo teed up a second strike from Ferran Torres to put the Blaugrana 2-0 up on the evening in the Spanish capital, and Yamal almost assisted goals for Olmo and Fermin Lopez before the half hour mark was hit.
However, the high line was broken decisively at that stage when Antoine Griezmann released Marcos Llorente, and Ademola Lookman latched onto his back post delivery. The Blaugrana battled admirably, but a late red card for Eric Garcia following a foul on Alexander Sorloth stifled some of their momentum, and Ronald Araujo wasted the opportunity to level the tie at the death.
‘We have to do things better’
This exit had hallmarks of the thriller against Inter Milan in the semi-final last year. Barcelona are a pulsating watch, but defensive details keep costing the team. With age and experience, they aim to address their faults.
“We’re disappointed. We had many chances. We had the opportunity to make it 3-0 and then we conceded that goal. We’re disappointed. We played a fantastic game. We played with one less player and the team was fantastic. I really appreciate what I saw today. We haven’t had much luck.
“That’s just how it is. We have to accept it. That’s football, it’s about small details. We have to do things better, but the mentality, the attitude… the team has given everything. That’s what we want to see. They’ve done a fantastic job, but we haven’t achieved it.
“We have to win La Liga. We have to show the attitude mentality. Of course we are disappointed, the fans, players, coaches, for everyone, it’s a big dream to win the Champions League.
“We are on that way. We have a young team, and we will improve next season. For me, I don’t care about when we will win it, I want to win it. I don’t care what matchday. It’s tough. I think everyone really believed in that [comeback], that we can make it happen. But it was very different in the end.”