PSG star Marco Verratti reveals Barcelona’s players told him it was all over after Edinson Cavani’s strike
Lionel Messi and co thought their Champions League dream was gone before miracle comeback at the Nou Camp
BARCELONA players thought their Champions League dream was over after Edinson Cavani’s goal for PSG, revealed Marco Verratti.
The Italian midfielder was part of the French side that were left stunned at the Nou Camp on Wednesday as the La Liga giants pulled off one of the most amazing comebacks in history.
Trailing 4-0 from the first-leg in Paris, the comeback appeared to be on as Barca raced into a 3-0 lead before Cavani fired in a vital away goal.
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The Catalans needed three goals to advance, but they pulled off the incredible feat in the final seven minutes of the tie to win 6-5 on aggregate – something even the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar did not think possible.
Verratti, still stunned, said: “Barca deserve to qualify. It was difficult to play, to make passes.
“They pressed too much in the first half. In the second half, we managed to play better. But we conceded the third goal and we understood that we had to play. We couldn’t wait for it to finish like that.
“After Edi’s goal, we were calmer. I spoke to the Barca players – they told me it was over.
“I don’t find any explanation for conceding three goals in five minutes. That’s football.
“It’s a match I’ll never forget. I hope it’ll serve as a lesson for everyone.”
He added: “We’re going to have difficult moments. There will be others.
“We have to find the strength to pick ourselves up. We have to be men. We’re all sad.
“We lost 6-1 — it wasn’t the referee’s fault. We’re the first ones responsible for this.”
The Ligue 1 champions were poor all night in Barcelona, completing just 183 passes and having only 35 per cent possession as they were blown away.