Arsenal lost to Barcelona at home while Juventus and Bayern played a thrilling 2-2 draw at Turin. Here is how various pundits, players, managers reacted after yesterday’s two big Champions League matches:
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker regretted the team’s inability to convert their chances.
"We had to score at one point here and that's why we do not deserve anything," the German told BT Sport . "You will never keep them quiet for 90 minutes.
"We took more risks and then they scored. We had enough chances to score at least one. We have to concentrate on the Premier League now.
"In one month we face Barcelona again and we still have a chance. We never give up."
Arsene Wenger was left frustrated after yet another loss in the round of 16 and he did not mince any words
"We were naive," he told BT Sport. "Similar to Monaco [in last season's last 16], when it looked like we could win this game we gave it away.”
Rio Ferdinand thinks that the tie is all but over and he did not give think Arsenal had any chance to progress.
“1-0 to the Nou Camp is not a great result but you've still got a chance, your foot is still in the tie, whereas at 2-0 it's almost a lost cause”
Barcelona manager Luis Enrique meanwhile was thrilled that Barcelona extended their winning run.
"The team has played at a very high level in all the phases of play. We've generated play and we've done well at the back to not concede chances. We've deserved the victory. What I liked most was the whole game. There's nothing I didn't like."
Of Busquets he said: "He was a bit stif. And Busquets is Superbusquets. For us he's a fundamental player. They hit him, but he told us he could continue and I don't want to take him off."
The Barcelona manager also denied allegations that Pique got sent off deliberately.
Of Pique's yellow card he said: "I don't know if you've seen the foul but it couldn't be a deliberate yellow. He was booked and will not play in the return leg. That's it."
Meanwhile, Piers Morgan and James Dashner were at their sarcastic best.
Luis Suarez who surprisingly did not score a goal was very confident about his team calling them the best in the world.
“We are very ambitious," the striker told reporters after the match. We want to carry on winning trophies and adding titles to this club because we are in the best team in the world.
"We just need to focus on getting our goals."
The star of the night Lionel Messi had a word of caution for his team-mates.
"The tie isn't over," he told TV3. "We know what sort of things Arsenal are capable of and nothing is decided despite the fact we achieved a great result with two goals as visitors."
Juventus fought back bravely from 2-0 down to achieve a 2-2 draw, and their star striker Dybala said that they earned the respect of Bayern Munich.
"We were aware it was going to be very difficult, but we made them respect us in the end. We put our heart into it and did well to get a draw. We can do it," Dybala told Mediaset Premium.
Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola was extremely frustrated and he showed it when he mouthed a profanity during his press conference.
“'The result is what it is,” said Guardiola. 'I know that in Italy you are about physical condition. I don't give a f*** for the physical condition. It's the mental question that I care about.
“I didn't expect to come here and expect Juve not to shoot on target, or that we would play 90 fantastic minutes.
“They have players like (Mario) Mandzukic, (Paul) Pogba and (Leonardo) Bonucci, one of my all-time favourite players. And we showed character.”
Juventus manager Allegri was pleased with the courage shown by his players.
“We've got to build on the second half, when the lads did well. Let's not forget Bayern's excellent technical quality, which meant we struggled in the first half, although we didn't allow them many chances. They fell away a bit in the second half and we gained some courage – and that is what we need.”
Mario Mandzukic was thrilled by the atmosphere at Turin and he took to Twitter to thank the Juventus fans
Arjen Robben who was arguably the best player on the pitch said that his team lacked focus after going two goals up.
"We all are a bit disappointed," Robben said. "When you are two goals up you have to finish off the match. We should have played calmer. Even after a second goal you must stay focused."
