FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.03.2007 01:03

“Lost the game in 45 minutes”

Barça players accept they missed an opportunity to finish off the game following the penalty miss, as Messi put it: “the game was lost in 45 minutes”. The players did not want to get into the subject of the expulsions.

Despite having taken the lead and seeing Sevilla reduced to ten men, Barça were unable to capitalise on the advantage. Barça had to “work hard” said Oleguer, “It became complicated”, remarked Iniesta. The team agreed that they were unable to find a way through “the game was lost in 45 minutes”, said Messi. Regarding the sendings off of Giuly and Zambrotta, the team did not want to comment as “they are refereeing decisions”.

Below are the players’ reactions from the game:

Gianluca Zambrotta

“I haven’t said anything, I only looked at the ball. I spoke with the ref after and he said my protest had been too strong”.

Andres Iniesta

“We were unable to finish off the game when we could have, therefore things got complicated. The Liga isn’t decided in one game and we will continue to fight for the title”.

“Tuesday is another battle”.

Regarding Giuly’s sending off: “Nobody saw what happened. They’re refereeing decisions”.

Oleguer Presas

“In an isolated play, they got the equaliser and we lost our rhythm. We were unable to pile on the pressure correctly”.

Regarding the expulsions: “they’re not important”

“The team has to know what to do in every occasion”.

Victor Valdes

“We had the chance to double the lead, however, they’ve now taken the lead”.

“From my position, I can’t say anything, they’re the ref’s decisions”.

“We now have to concentrate on the game on Tuesday”

Leo Messi

“It’s a shame, but it happened and we have to put it behind us”.

“In the first half, we were the better team, but in 45 minutes, the game was lost”.

Ronaldinho

“We have to realise we’ve not done well”.

“We started well, but we didn’t maintain our rhythm and we lost a great opportunity”.

“I missed the penalty which could have handed us the victory. Palop dived to his right but was able to stop the ball with his feet”.