The tone was one of defiance, the sense of huge disappointment. As Manchester City reflected on their 2-0 defeat to Barcelona, it was with two thoughts: that of injustice and of a determination to achieve the impossible by beating the dominant team of their generation by at least two goals at Camp Nou.
“Nothing is impossible in football,” said the right-back Pablo Zabaleta. Their quadruple dream may be dying, but not if City can help it.
They face the steepest of uphill tasks but, as the substitute Samir Nasri recalled, they have already beaten European champions Bayern Munich in their own backyard this season.
The Frenchman said: “It is a different game but why not? We went to Munich and we won. We could do the same.” Bayern, City’s victims in December, recorded a 3-0 win in Catalonia in last season’s semi-final away leg.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team require a similar score line. “You have to go there with confidence,” said the midfielder Fernandinho.
The message from Barcelona’s Argentine contingent, whether the manager Gerardo Martino or the makeshift centre-back Javier Mascherano, is that the tie is only at the halfway stage. They are determined not to get complacent.
“City are a team that can score any time,” said the former Liverpool player. “They can score two or three goals because they have players with a lot of quality. We know how difficult the second leg will be.” There is a reason from his homeland for his trepidation. Probably, Sergio Aguero will be available.
It highlighted the reality that Tuesday’s first leg came at a poor time for City. Aguero, their most potent forward, was sidelined. Alvaro Negredo, his excellent sidekick, is still feeling his way back into the side after a shoulder injury.
Nasri made a second bright cameo in the space of four days but a knee problem means he has not started since January 12. Fernandinho had missed the previous three games with a muscle strain before returning against the Spanish champions.
“I am feeling good,” the Brazilian said. So were City after 52 minutes when, although they had been starved of possession, Barcelona had created few chances and manager Pellegrini argued his tactics were working.
Then Jesus Navas was dispossessed – Pellegrini said he was fouled – and Andres Iniesta sent Lionel Messi scurrying clear. Martin Demichelis chopped his fellow Argentine down and saw the referee, Jonas Eriksson, pointing to the penalty spot and reaching for his pocket.
“I think it is a red card because Demichelis was the last man and it was a foul on Messi,” said Zabaleta. City argued the offence took place outside the box and the tie was altered indelibly.
“It was a close game and then the referee made a mistake,” Nasri said. “It was not a penalty. It was a free kick.”
City’s 10 men competed valiantly after Messi converted the spot kick but Daniel Alves scored a last-minute second for Barcelona. Zabaleta noted Barcelona are a difficult side for 11 men. “So imagine with 10; it is double difficult,” he said.
And playing against Barcelona in Camp Nou with a two-goal deficit makes their task infinitely harder.
sports@thenational.ae