The Barça players are focused on a second leg comeback to see them through to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. Leo Messi’s away goal has kept them well and truly alive in the clash with Athletic and captain Andrés Iniesta emphasized that “the tie is still open.” “At no point did we lost touch in the game, we tried right until the end but we could find the equaliser,” he continued.
The Barça number 8 highlighted their opponents virtues in the game: “They pressured us really well when we tried to bring the ball out.” The midfielder also was conscience of the value of his side’s second half striker to make it 2-1 as “goals away from home are valuable.”
Other statements post-game from the FC Barcelona players:
Sergio Busquets
“The goal gives us life and in the second leg we will go out to win.”
“Athletic are an intense team and we knew where we were coming to.”
“We were the better side and we could have drawn.”
Ivan Rakitic
“Playing here is not easy and less so when it is the first game after the break.”
“I am optimistic. We deserved more and we had a good pace in the game.”
“We made some mistakes that we have to fix.”
Gerard Piqué
“The result leaves the tie wide open.”
“Sometimes the referee’s decisions go one way or another. For me, they were very clear.”
