Flick: Barcelona Deserve Respect Despite UCL Exit

Speaking to UEFA.com, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said his team still deserve respect in Europe — despite their painful Champions League exit at the hands of Inter Milan at San Siro.

The Catalan side fought back from two goals down to lead 3-2, but Francesco Acerbi‘s 93rd-minute goal pushed the match into extra time — where Davide Frattesi sealed a 7-6 aggregate win for Inter.

“I think the team and the players deserve respect in Europe. But we play to win titles. We want to be champions. Next season we’ll go for it. That’s our goal,” said Flick.

Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s rising star, shared an emotional message to the fans via social media:

“We gave it our all. It didn’t happen this year, but we’ll be back. Don’t doubt it, CULERS — we won’t stop until this club is back where it belongs — at the top.”

Barcelona will now shift focus to the El Clasico clash with Real Madrid this weekend — a win would move them four points clear with just four La Liga games remaining.