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."
Bayern forward Wagner makes China move after 'very attractive offer' AFP January 30, 2019, 1:38 PM GMT The 31-year-old former Germany international Sandro Wagner started just once for Bundesliga
Forward Wagner leaves Bayern to join China's Tianjin Teda
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star LONDON • A half-hour or so after Tottenham Hotspur had edged out Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, the club's new stadium was all but empty.
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/son-heung-min-is-no-longer-an-invisible-star/
Son Heung-min is no longer an invisible star. By. Virgini - May 31, 2019. 0. 4. Share on Facebook. Tweet on Twitter. LONDON • A half-hour or so after Tottenham
Don't Expect News Of A Son Heung-Min Wife Anytime Soon
Phil Neville says England Women need to be ruthless. By Adam Goodwin White finish put the Lionesses 2-0 up in a first half they controlled, before their levels dropped and Scotland pulled one
Phil Neville: England boss to be 'ruthless' when picking
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 14, 2018, with the headline 'Defiant Solari calls for patience'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
I will not resign as coach of Real Madrid, says defiant Solari
Champions League final 2019: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino passed fit by Jurgen Klopp to face Tottenham. The Brazilian has been struggling with a groin problem, but is now in the clear to start at
Roberto Firmino passed fit for Champions League final, Jurgen
sportsalert.org/2019/05/31/roberto-firmino-passed-fit-for-champions-league-final-jurgen-klopp-confirms/
Liverpool have been given a huge boost ahead of their Champions League final against Tottenham - with Roberto Firmino returning to fitness. The Brazilian has missed the last three matches, including the semi-final victory over Barcelona, with a thigh problem.
Klopp confirms Firmino fitness for Champions League final
The club said in a statement: "We are delighted to announce that the Tottenham Hotspur first-team squad will travel to Singapore and Shanghai as part of their pre-season tour in July in
First Team to visit Shanghai and Singapore for pre-season
The 2016 S.League (also known as the Great Eastern Yeo's S.League for sponsorship reasons) was the 21st season of the S.League, the top-flight Singaporean professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1996.
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain. By. AFP who won the World Cup in 2006 and is Italy's most-capped player with 176 appearances, did not say whether he would be retiring
"He's unstoppable," said Klopp afterwards. "Obviously we couldn't defend the free-kick. Klopp hails Salah's goal against Chelsea. Salah targets place in Liverpool record books.
Klopp on 'amazing' Liverpool, Salah, wind - ProSoccerTalk
Eden Hazard could be a Real Madrid player as early as Monday with reports in Spain saying that the club will hold an unveiling for the Chelsea forward at the beginning of next week.
Real Madrid Kit 2019/20: First Images of Los Blancos' Classy
(Reuters) - BURNLEY 1 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 . Crystal Palace moved further away from the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Burnley on Saturday thanks to second half goals from Michy Batshuayi and Wilfried Zaha.
Palace climb away from trouble with 3-1 win at Burnley
Subscribe to Read Articles from December 1954 Part 2. Nabbed: The Insidious Infiltrator That Menaced Titanium Industry; TITANIUM CROSSES HYDROGEN HURDLE
English Comprehensives: Poem Identification Flashcards | Quizlet
FIFA says it has been in regular contact with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over the Bahraini soccer player arrested in Thailand in November over a prison sentence in his homeland.
FIFA Says In Regular Contact With AFC Over Detained Bahraini
Ronaldo fined, not jailed for tax fraud, Football News & Top
Real Madrid failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010. Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari says he will not resign after their last-16 Champions League exit to Ajax.
Real Madrid suffered then hit Ajax back - Solari - espn.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment