Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has offered an explanation for his team’s 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy netted a hat-trick to secure Dortmund’s win in Germany, but it wasn’t enough to overturn Barcelona’s commanding 4-0 first-leg victory at Camp Nou, as the Spanish side progressed to the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate score.
Reflecting on the result, Flick admitted that Barcelona were not at their best on the night but emphasized the importance of advancing to the next round.
“We are in the semi-finals,” Flick said.
“Two games were judged on this and we deserve to be in the next round. They have a great team and made life very difficult for us, but we are through to the next round and that is what counts.”
He continued, “We didn’t play at our best today but that was also down to Dortmund, who did really well.
“What the team has achieved in recent weeks is phenomenal. We are now one step further, but we are still a long way from the end.”