Anthony Gordon has offered an honest appraisal of Barcelona’s 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, saying the European champions had “better moments and more quality.”
Barça coach Hansi Flick had challenged his side to show they can compete with the best side in Europe before the match.
Goals from Xavi Espart and Lamine Yamal kept Barça in the game but two late strikes from Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz ensured PSG maintained their 100% win record in this season’s Champions League.
Gordon praised the French side and said they simply played better for longer.
“I think they deserved it in the end. I feel like they were the better team,” Gordon told TNT Sport.
“They had better moments with more quality and I feel like athletically they were able to sustain the pressure, the intensity for longer than we were.
“They’ve been the team to beat for two years, tonight is a great example of why.”
– How Raphinha’s latest transformation made him into Barcelona’s star striker
– Barcelona, PSG thriller proves these are the two best in the world
– Ngumoha sparks Liverpool’s comeback Champions League win
Gordon said Barça, who had won 11-straight games before Tuesday’s defeat, want to emulate PSG, but the result showed there is plenty of room for improvement.
“I think we can take great positives because we played well, it was a competitive spectacle,” Gordon said. “But we’ve still got work to do and I think that’s a good position.
“They’ve been the best for two years, they’re still the team to beat and we need to take from this that we need to do enough work, analyse this game and try and become that team. Try and become the team that needs to be beaten.”
Barça have the chance to bounce back immediately against Spanish rivals Real Madrid in Sunday’s Clasico.
