Barcelona 2 Manchester City 1: 'It was a clear penalty, but we gave all we could,' concedes Vincent Kompany after Champions League exit

Zabaleta was sent off for dissent after the clash did not warrant a spot kick

Agency
Thursday 13 March 2014 02:00 GMT
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(GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany promised his team had given their all in defeat to Barcelona and said they would return to the Champions League next season not fearing anyone.

Lionel Messi and Dani Alves both scored again as Barca advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win in the second leg at the Nou Camp to progress 4-1 on aggregate.

Just as in the first leg, when Martin Demichelis was dismissed, Manuel Pellegrini's team were reduced to 10 men thanks to a red card for Pablo Zabaleta.

But City goalscorer Kompany felt his players could walk away with their heads held high, having put in a spirited display - in contrast to their weekend FA Cup exit at the hands of Wigan.

Asked if it would be hard for City to lift themselves ahead of their return to Barclays Premier League action, the Belgium defender said on Sky Sports 1: "No. If anything, it should give us motivation.

"The way we played against Wigan, the performance today was completely different.

"Only the winners get remembered, but it's only the third year ever for Manchester City in the Champions League. I'm looking at this and I don't see why next year we should fear anyone."

Edin Dzeko charged into the area and had strong claims for a penalty as he went down under a Gerard Pique challenge.

City's players were furious nothing was given, but Zabaleta took his protests too far and was given his marching orders with a second yellow card 12 minutes from time.

Lionel Messi dinks the ball over Joe Hart (GETTY) (GETTY IMAGES)

"For me, it was a clear penalty," Kompany said. "He is in a position to shoot and his triggering foot is getting caught - it takes the chance away.

"But we can discuss stuff like this - you never know whether it would have put us in a position to qualify."

He added: "I think I speak for the team in saying we've got nothing left in the tank.

"We gave everything. A few times we could have scored, and obviously that would have changed the game.

"Going for a second time down to 10 men after it was a clear penalty, it's not easy conditions to come and play against a strong team.

"Over the course of two games, it's funny I say this, but whenever there was 11 players (against 11) there wasn't much between the two teams.

"Obviously, Messi is an incredible player and whenever he has the ball danger can happen - but outside of that we had huge changes. If we score, we're looking at a completely different game."

Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas acknowledged the Catalan giants had not been at their best recently - they have slipped four points behind arch rivals Real Madrid in the Primera Division - but said they would take heart from this result.

Pablo Zabaleta is shown a red a card by referee Stephane Lannoy (GETTY) (GETTY IMAGES)

"It was a very tight game, playing against a world-class team," the former Arsenal captain told Sky Sports 1.

"We knew it was going to be difficult. The 2-0 was a great result over there. It's never easy to go to Manchester and win the way we did it.

"Apparently, there was a penalty not awarded and the goal from Neymar in the first half was onside. But we take a lot of positives.

"I think we played a lot better than the last few games. We were not at our best and today is a way to lift the spirit of the team.

"We go home happy. For the last couple of games, we could not have said that because we were not happy going back home after some negative results.

"I think we played a good game today against a class team and we are proud of it."

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