First team

MERCADO: 'WE WERE CONFIDENT BUT IN THE END IT WASN'T TO BE'

23/02/2019

The Argentine centre-back stated 'to beat FC Barcelona you have to stop Messi who can destroy you'

Gabriel Mercado was interviewed following Saturday's defeat against Barcelona in Nervión. The Argentine centre-back stated 'we played really well in the first half. We felt good and pressed well but Messi decided the game in the second half. They are a lot better with him; he scored three goals, gave one assist and everything goes through him. To beat them you have to try and stop him.'

Furthermore, he praised the team's effort despite the defeat: 'Everyone was exhausted after the effort they put in. It's not an excuse but to play at that level is tough work. We have to clear our heads now for the match against Huesca, it's a really important game.'

To finish, he evaluated his own performance: 'If the team doesn't win it doesn't matter who scored. We will keep working. I was annoyed because you always want to be fit and ready for the manager to pick you. I ended up having to ask to be substituted. We were confident but in the end it wasn't to be.'