FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.03.2008 23:59

Laporta: “Eliminated with dignity”

Anna Segura

The president of FC Barcelona has recognised the effort of the team in Mestalla on Thursday and hopes the players can lift themselves for the remainder of the season.

After the game, Joan Laporta first congratulated Valencia on reaching the final. But secondly he said that “we have been eliminated but with dignity. We were within touching distance but in the end it wasn’t to be”. Both Laporta and the dressing room have resorted to continue fighting in the final stages of the season with the league and Champions League still to play for.

Lift the spirits

Joan Laporta believes that now is not the time to look back but “to look forward”. Therefore it’s necessary to “raise our spirits. We are all sad about what happened and how it happened. We have to lift our morale and get the right spirit to face the remainder of the season”, said the president. Apart from the league, Barça have the quarter-finals of the Champions League to play. Laporta believes that “today I have seen a team that can win the Champions League”.

Dressing room - sad

The captain Carles Puyol also spoke after the game and said he was sad at just missing out on the final again: “The team gave it everything, they fought hard, but that’s football. I understand the fans are hurt but I can only say that we will fight for the competitions that are left”.

For his part, Sylvinho said “it’s a difficult moment. It’s a very bad night but we have to move forward because there’s no other way”.