Xavi Hernandez insisted Barcelona are enhancing regardless of one other early European exit, this time by the hands of Manchester United within the Europa League on Thursday.
Robert Lewandowski's first-half penalty gave Barca the lead on the evening and within the tie, however second-half objectives from Brazil duo Fred and Antony noticed United advance to the spherical of 16 through a 4-3 combination win.
It continued Barca's poor document in Europe in current seasons. They've did not make it out of the Champions League group levels in every of the previous two years and had been knocked out of the Europa League by Frankfurt on the quarterfinal stage final April.
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"We have been much better than last season," Xavi mentioned. "We came up against Bayern [Munich], Inter and Man Utd this time. These are big, powerful sides, but we were not good enough.
"We now have improved, nevertheless it wasn't sufficient. We are going to attempt once more. We will likely be self-critical and attempt to be extra aggressive and look to enhance in Europe."
After an enthralling 2-2 draw at Camp Nou last week, Barca played well in the first half at Old Trafford but lost their way after the break and will not play in any European competition in March for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
Xavi felt Fred's equaliser, which arrived just two minutes after the restart, had a huge effect on the game.
"Their first aim did numerous injury to us, coming from a 50-50 ball which we misplaced," the Barca coach said. "We misplaced the person duels within the second half. United performed with numerous depth.
"The first half was good. It was an even tie -- here and at Camp Nou. In spells we were very good, such as in the first half here. The team stepped up, but we lost against a great side in great form."
Regardless of praising United, Xavi in the end felt the loss was right down to his personal facet's shortcomings -- and that the absences of the injured Pedri and suspended Gavi made an enormous distinction.
"It was more down to us, we lacked patience in the second half," he added. "If Pedri and Gavi are playing, I think the second half could have been different.
"It is not in search of excuses, however the pause they play with, how they flip. It means that you can play within the opponent's half.
"Sergi Roberto was good. [Franck] Kessie very good, like Frenkie [de Jong]. But for the way we play, they would have been really good for us here. That said, the first half was excellent and it's a shame we are out."
Domestically, issues are going significantly better for Barca. They've already received the Spanish Supercopa, are eight factors clear on the prime of LaLiga and have a two-legged Copa del Rey semifinal developing towards Actual Madrid.
"The only positive is that on Sunday we have a game, so we focus on Almeria," Xavi mentioned. "Then [we focus] on the semifinal of the Copa next Thursday. Those two competitions remain and they are very important for the club."
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