Emery struggles to accept shock Euro exit
BARCELONA: PSG coach Unai Emery was fighting for survival yesterday after his side were swept away 6-1 by Barcelona in a Champions League rout described as a “nightmare” and a “humiliation”.
The Spaniard had been hailed as a tactical genius last month when his French champions stunned mighty Barca 4-0 in Paris in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
But on Wednesday night, in front of almost 100,000 people at the Camp Nou, PSG shipped three late goals in an incredible last seven minutes as Barcelona completed the greatest comeback in the history of the tournament, winning 6-5 on aggregate.
“When you win 4-0, then lose 6-1, it’s very hard to accept,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari official whose country has poured millions of dollars into the French club.
“Everyone knows that the quarter-finals were an objective and after winning the first leg 4-0 that aim was confirmed.
“This is a nightmare for everybody. Is Unai Emery still credible? This is not the moment to talk of this. After the game, we are all upset.”
Emery, meanwhile, said PSG were damaged by German referee Deniz Aytekin’s decisions to award two penalties to Barcelona — both in the second half.
“The truth is we have let a huge opportunity get away and we are aware of that. In the first half it was more our fault than them playing well,” said Spanish coach Emery.
“In the second half it changed. The [Messi] penalty got them off to a great start, but I was already calmer because I could see the team were responding better, were better positioned on the pitch and could do damage.
“We had chances to make it 3-2 and then the refereeing decisions, I don’t know if they were right or not, but for sure they damaged us. Then in the last two minutes we lost everything we had recovered in the second half.
“Barcelona are capable of this in their stadium. In the last few minutes they played all or nothing and they have beaten us.”