Joe Hart believes Manchester City still have chance to knockout Barcelona

Alam Khan - Reporter 07:51 25/02/2015
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  • Leo’s let-off: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi misses with his injury-time penalty at the Etihad Stadium last night.

    Joe Hart says Manchester City pan­icked as they allowed Barcelona to claim a crucial advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie.

    Two goals from Luis Suarez, on his return to English soil following his summer move from Liverpool, were decisive at the Etihad despite a consolation from Sergio Aguero.

    Gael Clichy was also sent off for City in the 74th minute before Joe Hart saved Lionel Messi’s penalty with the last kick of the game.

    The keeper hopes that will give his side a chance in the Nou Camp return as he said: “I hope so. We will go there with a great group of fans, belief and we will have a right go.

    “We pressed until the first goal and panicked a bit. We regrouped second half, put a lot of pressure on and were good for our goal and maybe good for a result tonight.

    “The occasion did not get to us, sometimes things go against you. It is 2-1 and we go there with belief.

    “Luis Suarez is a fantastic player, he took his goals well.”

    Midfielder James Milner praised Hart for stepping up at the vital moment and said City’s sloppy start had cost them.

    “Joe has kept us in it,” he said. “It was a great save, that’s what top keepers do and he’s managed to do it at a crucial time for us.

    “It was a difficult first 45 min­utes, we couldn’t really get close to them. The last two games we’ve played a nice quick tempo and pressed people high and we didn’t really get close enough to them and gave them too much time on the ball.

    “I don’t think we gave them too much respect, I just don’t think we got close enough and that’s what we need to do.

    “We can’t just press as indi­viduals. You have to get in there in groups and everyone go together and we didn’t do that.”

    But two-goal hero Suarez is highly confident that his Barcelona team will progress into the quar­ter-finals.

    The Uruguayan believes their two away goals will prove too big an ask for their English oppo­nents.

    He said: “We are conscious that we are Barcelona and we will be playing at home. We have to prove that we are strong at the Nou Camp.

    “The tie is still open but we are happy.”

    Suarez was not surprised to see City fight back despite being domi­nated in the opening period, saying: “City are a great team with some quality players.

    “In the first half we had a lot of chances, but we knew that City had potential and in the second half they made it hard for us.”

    Suarez added: “It would have been the end of the tie (had Messi scored), but it’s normal in football that penalties are missed.”

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