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Iniesta rues Barca’s Champions League exit

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Iniesta rues Barca's Champions League exit

Barcelona captain, Andres Iniesta says his side did not expect to crash out of the Champions League given their three-goal lead from the first leg of the quarterfinal encounter against Roma.

The La Liga giants were stunned on Tuesday night by the Serie side who overturned a 4-1 deficit with a 3-0 victory to advance on away goals to the last four of the competition.

“It’s a painful defeat because we didn’t expect it, given the lead we had,” the midfielder told reporters after the loss.

With a 3-4-1-2 formation, Roma coach, Eusebio Di Francesco, proved a tactical masterstroke as goals by Edin Dzeko, Daniele de Rossi and Kostas Manolas saw off Barcelona.

Read Also: Roma knock Barca out of UCL with stunning comeback; Liverpool into semis

Iniesta added: “We didn’t adapt and we’re disappointed to have been eliminated. We had hopes of winning the Champions League and they’ve been dashed.

“They were very clear about how to attack us and we didn’t find the solution.”

Meanwhile, reports have it that the veteran midfielder is considering a move to China, and he hinted this mighy be his last Champions League match.

“It’s possible,” Iniesta said when asked. “But tonight isn’t the right time to give out such messages. We’re all hurt. It’s not a question of asking for forgiveness, things go for you or they don’t, but our desire to win is always the same.

“We’ll do our best to win the two competitions (La Liga and Copa del Rey) we have left.”

 

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