Bonmati vows Barca ´can be again´ after Champions League remaining defeat

Aitana Bonmati insisted that Barcelona “can be again” following their heartbreaking Girls’s Champions League remaining defeat to Arsenal.

Barcelona had been hoping to proceed their European dominance on the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday, however got here up brief towards Renee Slegers’ resilient aspect.

Stina Blackstenius emerged from the bench to strike the decisive blow for the Gunners, clinching Arsenal’s first success within the competitors in 18 years.

Pere Romeu’s aspect dominated for a lot of the competition, ending the sport with an anticipated objectives (xG) complete of 0.98 from their 20 photographs to Arsenal’s 0.64 from their eight makes an attempt.

Barcelona had received 9 straight matches on their technique to the ultimate, thrashing Wolfsburg and Girls’s Tremendous League champions Chelsea within the knockout levels.

That could be a massive purpose, together with lifting a sixth consecutive Liga F title this 12 months, that Bonmati believes her staff can be again difficult for the Champions League subsequent season.

“I don’t imagine it. I simply need to begin the sport once more and do it in a different way. However that is soccer. This may serve us to come back again stronger subsequent 12 months,” Bonmati instructed TV3.

“We had been not so good as we normally are within the first half. We had been extra comfy after the break, however I’ve to congratulate Arsenal for his or her efficiency.

“They’d their sport plan, and so they took benefit of their possibilities.

“Personally, this hurts me rather a lot. It’s powerful. It’s laborious trying on the stands and seeing all of the supporters. It jogs my memory of Turin (when Barca misplaced their final remaining).

“It’s a useless ball, and we didn’t defend it properly. Within the different space, these of us in assault need to take our possibilities. We’re actually sorry, we gave all the things.

Culers pic.twitter.com/MqB6Uf5WOx

— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) Might 24, 2025

“We weren’t at our greatest and soccer penalises you if you’re not. Now we now have to maintain working laborious and what’s occurred in Lisbon has to serve to enhance sooner or later.

“A big a part of the disappointment and frustration I’ve is for the followers which have come. I’m actually sorry. We can be again.”

And although Barcelona piled on the strain to attempt to take the sport to extra-time, they needed to stand up to some nervy moments of their very own all through the competition.

Cata Coll made two large saves in both half, first tipping Frida Maanum’s effort from distance over the crossbar earlier than thwarting Blackstenius’ strike from shut vary.

And the Barcelona goalkeeper echoed the feelings of team-mate Bonmati, suggesting that reaching the showpiece match was an achievement in itself.

“We performed a nasty first half after which after we improved, the ball simply wouldn’t go in. That’s soccer,” Coll mentioned.

“Reaching a remaining is at all times a hit. This isn’t a hunch. I proceed to fully imagine on this staff.”