Barcelona president Joan Laporta admits he is ‘sad’ after the club’s shock Champions League group stage knockout following limp loss at Bayern Munich – but urges their players to ‘move on’ and ‘overcome’ their woes
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has opened up on his sadness after the club were knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage.
Needing to beat Bayern Munich last night, Xavi Hernandez’s side fell to a limp 3-0 defeat, a result which has condemned them to the Europa League instead.
The setback will prove costly for a team already rocked by a financial crisis, and Laporta has admitted that he was left crestfallen by their elimination.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was left feeling sad after their Champions League knockout
Needing to beat Bayern Munich, the Catalan giants instead fell to a 3-0 defeat and crashed out
However, the Nou Camp chief also insisted that they will have no time to wallow in their misery, and is now keen to see an immediate reaction from his players.
After the game, Laporta told Sport: ‘We are sad for the result, but we have to move on.
‘It’s a moment to work and try to revert the situation.
Leroy Sane (fourth from right) scored Bayern’s second goal, and they soon eased to the victory
‘We haven’t been able to go down to the changing rooms to support the players. We will speak on the plane with the technical team.
‘We have done what we have been able to and now we have to try to overcome this situation.’
The performance from Barcelona at the Allianz Arena was abject, and saw them exit the Champions League at the very first hurdle for the first time in 21 years.
Next Monday, they will discover who they will face in the Europa League last-32.
Laporta is now keen to see a response from Barcelona in their bid to ‘overcome’ their setback
Every season, the club budgets to reach the quarter-finals of the premier club competition, and will now be left with less funds than ever to improve their squad.
Reacting to the defeat, boss Xavi admitted that his side were outfought and outperformed – and bluntly declared that he is feeling ‘p***** off’.
‘They’ve dominated us, we always want to dominate and subdue our rival but it’s been the other way around,’ he said.
‘We have to demand more of ourselves. We’re Barcelona. This has to be a turning point to change the dynamic and many things.
Angry boss Xavi Hernandez declared he felt ‘p***** off’ and said his players did not ‘compete’
‘We haven’t competed. This is the Champions League.
‘But this is our reality. It’s the situation we face, and we have to face the situation with dignity. Today begins a new era and a new stage. I’m p***** off.
‘This is our reality and it p***** me off. But we have to face it. There’s no other way.
Barcelona will now look to bounce back after their elimination against Osasuna this weekend
‘Today a new stage begins and we start from scratch. Our goal is the Champions League, not the Europa League. We have to work hard.
‘I don’t like the word failure, because we have tried. I love this club and I will give my life to make it work.’
Barcelona will look to bounce back quickly against Osasuna in LaLiga this weekend.
