Neymar: CL failure hurts

Neymar has admitted that Barcelona’s failure to defend the Champions League “hurts” his teammates but is confident of a response next season.

Victory over Juventus in Berlin last June capped off a historic second treble for Barca, but they were unable to follow up their heroics after defeat to Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, prompting Neymar to set his sights on a return to European form in 2016-17.

“The motivation that we all have is great,” he told Globo Esporte.

“We always want to win trophies and we’re now preparing for a final.

“We’ve already won a trophy and we’ll play for a second one next week.

“We’re all happy and motivated to win the Copa del Rey after the League.

“It hurts us that we’re not in the Champions League final, especially knowing that we could have, but these things happen and you have to congratulate the two teams who have reached the final.

“This shows that the Spanish League is very difficult.

“We have to give even more value to the League title [because of our CL elimination].

“We can’t forget everything that has happened this season, and we must take it into account for the next.

“Of course, we want the Champions League the next season, and we’ll be back to fight for it.”

Tags Neymar
La Liga - Club News