Aitana Bonmati insisted that Barcelona will be “back” after their heartbreaking ladies Champions League Final Demies of Arsenal.
Barcelona hoped on Saturday to continue their European dominance in the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but was short of the resilient side of Renee Slesers.
Stina Blackstenius emerged from the bank to hit the decisive blow to the Gunners, with the first success of Arsenal in the competition being held in 18 years.
Pere Romeu's dominated for a large part of the game and ended the game with an expected goals (XG) a total of 0.98 of their 20 shots to Arsenal's 0.64 of their eight attempts.
Barcelona had won nine consecutive games on their way to the final, which Wolfsburg and Women's Super League Champions Chelsea beat in the knockout phase.
That is a big reason, along with lifting a sixth consecutive League F title this year, that Bossi believes that her team will be back for the Champions League next season.
“I don't believe it. I just want to start the game again and do it differently. But this is football. This will serve us to come back stronger next year,” Bonmati told TV3.
“We were not so good if we were usually in the first half. We were more comfortable after the break, but I have to congratulate Arsenal on their performance.
“They had their game plan and they benefited from their chances.
“Personally this hurts me a lot. It is difficult. It is difficult to look at the stands and see all supporters. It reminds me of Turin (when Barca lost their final final).
“It is a dead ball, and we have not defended it properly. In the other area, those among us must take our opportunities in the attack. We really regret it, we have given everything.
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“We were not at our best and football punishes you if you are not. Now we have to continue working hard and what happened in Lisbon must serve in the future to improve.
“A large part of the grief and the frustration I have is for the fans who have come. I am really sorry. We are coming back.”
And although Barcelona stacked the pressure to try to bring the game to extra time, they had to resist a number of nervical moments of themselves during the game.
Cata Coll made two huge rescues in both half, with the efforts of Frida Maanum over the Lat of Frida Maanum first across the low beam before the Battle of Blackstenius from close by.
And the keeper of Barcelona repeated the feelings of teammate Bonnii, which suggests that reaching the showpiece competition was an achievement in itself.
“We played a bad first half and when we improved, the ball just wouldn't go inside. That's football,” Coll said.
“Reaching a final is always a success. This is not a malaise. I continue to believe completely in this team.”