Barcelona coach Luis Enrique admitted the better team had won after his team crashed out of the Champions League 3-2 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid after losing Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg 2-0 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Barca entered the game 2-1 ahead from last week's first leg at the Camp Nou, but Antoine Griezmann's 36th-minute header swung the momentum in the tie and put Atletico ahead on away goals.
The Catalans pushed for most of the second half to try and get a goal, but Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez were all bottled up, and Griezmann sealed Atletico's progress with a late penalty for the 3-2 aggregate score.
The Blaugrana coach told his postmatch news conference that Atletico had taken their first-half chance and then defended well and his team had not done enough to come back.
"At the start I expected an Atletico Madrid who attacked more," Luis Enrique said. "We did not suffer, had the ball, controlled the game. But they took advantage of our mistake and got ahead on the scoreboard. Then they did what they did best -- defend in their own half -- and we did not create enough dangerous situations. I congratulate Atletico Madrid, they were better than us."
Just a month ago Barca had seemed set to repeat last season's Treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey titles, but they are now out in Europe and with their lead ahead of domestic chasers Atletico and Real Madrid having been cut dramatically over the past two weeks.
"Our objectives are always the most high," Luis Enrique said. "We are proud that Barca always aims to win everything. But we must accept this result, and try and improve. We have two competitions in front of us now, with great chances to win them. They are two objectives attractive enough to aim for. For any other coach in the world winning those two would be enough. But we must improve."
Barca talisman Messi is now up to 452 minutes without a goal, with the barren run coming at just the wrong moment for his side, but Luis Enrique said it would be unfair to blame any one player for his team's dramatic slump in form.
"It is very unfair to point to individuals after a defeat, just like after a victory," he said. "This is about us all, the players' attitude was unimprovable. But we are in a bad moment, in both attack and defence. But I am very proud of my players, and sorry for the Barca fans. Our objective was to win everything, but we must lift ourselves up now, which is also a challenge for the team."
Asked what share of the blame he himself deserved for his team's European exit, Luis Enrique thought before answering.
"99.9 percent... no 100 percent," he responded. "That's why I am the coach, the most responsible."
Luis Enrique also refused to comment on whether he thought an injury-time handball by Atletico captain Gabi might have been given as a penalty for his side.
"They have told me it is inside, but from the bench you cannot see anything," he said.