Published: Today at 11:32
PEP GUARDIOLA refused to blame Lionel Messi for Barcelona's Champions League exit after his star striker's missed penalty proved costly.
Messi's spot kick just after half-time would have put Barca into a 3-1 lead against 10-man Chelsea, a scoreline which would have seen the defending champions through to the final 3-2 on aggregate.
But the world player of the year's shot rebounded from Petr Cech's crossbar to safety and Barca crashed out of the competition.
Asked about Messi's misdemeanour, Guardiola said: "We have got as far as we have thanks to Leo Messi.
"I would like to thank him for everything he has done.
"My admiration for him is insurmountable.
"He's an example to us all in the way he competes — and pulls us with him. In the way that he wants to be better each day.
"I am sure he is going to have a rough time for a few hours now, he is very competitive.
"But that's the beauty of this game."
Guardiola felt his players had given their all and that there was no shame in their performance.
He said: "We played well and did everything we could to get through to the final.
"But we couldn't achieve it. The sport of football is like this and we have to accept it.
"It's tough to accept it but when the opponent is better than you, you have to accept it.
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