"To be honest, I am very disappoined"

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde said he is “happy” to have qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League, but admitted he was “disappointed” with Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the quarterfinals.

"It was a very big goal we had in mind since the start of the season. I am very happy with the qualification, it had been six years since the team had achieved it and we have to appreciate it, but, to be honest, I am disappointed with the game we played," he summed up in statements to 'Movistar+'.

The French defender said that Barcelona lacked “a little bit of everything” they did well in the first leg (4-0), that is, “aggressiveness, pressing, focus and winning duels”. "We knew it was going to be a difficult match. They were playing at home and in front of an extraordinary crowd, which presses a lot, and we were not up to the task. Although we had a bit more control in the second half, we made mistakes. It was a bad game," he added.

Kounde explained that, at halftime, coach Hansi Flick asked them to “improve, to be more focused and intense,” but the full-back remarked that the team did not do “enough.” "It looks like we didn't go through and that's not the case, it's just that I'm disappointed with the game because I know this team is capable of doing much better, as we've shown all season. We have this standard and we have to keep going, not stop doing what we do well most of the time," he added.

Nevertheless, Kounde pointed out that “it's exciting” to be among the four best teams in Europe: "Since the first minute of the preseason, we have dreamed of winning the Champions League. There is one step left to reach the final and we should be proud of the team's work since the beginning of the season because we are alive in all competitions.