FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.01.2007 13:13

The team recognise their bad performance

Carles Puyol was philosphical after FC Barcelona's defeat against RCD Espanyol on Saturday evening and he admitted that the result was justified.

Goals from Luis García, Raúl Tamudo and Rufete gave the home team a 3-1 victory in Montjuïc, while Javier Saviola replied for Barça. Puyol believes that Espanyol showed more desire and that his side had played badly. Thiago Motta was also gracious in defeat as he stated that Ernesto Valverde's team had played well from the start.

Below are the thoughts of some of the Barça players after the game.

Puyol

"It is a justified result. They showed more aggression than us."
"They dominated the game throughout. There first goal hurt us and when we equalised we thought we were going to bounce back, but the second killed us off."

Saviola

"On a personal level I am pleased with the goal. But from the team point of view we have missed a good opportunity. But if another team is better, then we should admit that."
"I may have celebrated the goal in a special manner, but that is what I do whenever I score. It depends how I feel."
"I will try to seize every chance I have. As long as things continue like this and I am in good form, then things should go well for me."
"It was a very intense match. When we drew level we had a chance to win. During those minutes though we did not keep it together and show enough aggressiveness and they did."
"I am very happy at Barcelona at the moment."

Motta

"I think that Espanyol played well from the start. They came out strongly. They should be congratulated."
"After we have won so many times here, they really wanted to beat us and now they have done that."
"We never like to lose, but there is still a slight margin for error. Later in the season that margin will disappear."

Valdés

"It was a typical derby. Espanyol played very well. They were strong in front of goal in what was an attractive game."
"We like to have possession and control the rhythm of the game, without making mistakes. Sometimes that does not happen and Espanyol were better in that sense."
"We have to learn from our mistakes and must turn the page very quickly."
"All I know is that we have lost and cannot think about anything else."