Fabregas Proud of Barcelona Despite Champions League Defeat to Chelsea

Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who was involved in an on-field argument with Chelsea's Frank Lampard, during the two teams' Champions League tie has admitted that while he was frustrated by the defeat, he is happy the Catalans did not change their tactics and their principles during the game.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is now on a three match winless run and in the space of a single week has seen the season's two major trophies slip through his fingers - the 2-2 draw with Chelsea meant the Catalans bow out of the Champions League after a 2-3 aggregate loss; and the 1-2 defeat to Real Madrid on 21 April meant they are now seven points behind the Spanish league leaders with only four games to play. All that is left for them this season, it appears, is the King's Cup - the Spanish league's domestic trophy.

As far as the draw against Chelsea is concerned, despite dominating most, if not all, of the game, Barcelona were once again unable to finish their chances. Nevertheless, Fabregas insisted his club would come back stronger.

"It's a painful way to go out because we were superior. The result in Stamford Bridge is what did us in. We played a great game, we dominated and we created a lot of chances. We didn't sacrifice our style. It's painful to be eliminated this way, seeing that we had a lot of chances to score," the Daily Mail quoted the 24 year old Spaniard as saying.

"It's a very hard blow. We have to hold our heads high. [Next year] we'll have the chance to do important things," he added. Fabregas' feelings and reactions were echoed by his Barcelona team mates on Twitter.

"We fought until the end. Fans, I'm very sorry. We'll pick ourselves up with your help #forcabarca," Isaac Cuenca, who provided the assist on the Catalans' first goal, posted on Twitter, according to a Sun report. Andres Iniesta, who scored Barcelona's second goal, also spoke his frustrations on Twitter.

"It's a difficult and hard moment. We did everything to be in the Munich final, but it wasn't meant to be...," he posted on the micro blogging Web site, according to the Sun.

Dani Alves, who came on early to replace Gerrard Pique following his injury, also took to his Twitter page to apologise to Barcelona fans for letting them down.

"I'd like to thank all the Cules for your support and, at the same time, apologise for what happened. We tried but it wasn't meant to be," he posted, reported The Sun.

Meanwhile, Iniesta and Xavi's Spanish national team mate, Fernando Torres, who scored the Blues' third goal to ensure Chelsea's place in the finals, said the better side does not always win in football.

"Football is just like this. The better side does not always win," ESPN quoted Torres as saying. However, he admitted the Blues did follow a particular game-plan to ensure their place in the Champions League finals.

"We knew this is what we had to do against Barca, although this is not the prettiest thing to do. We used our weapons and it turned out great for us in both matches. Barca had their chances, but they did not take them and we found a lifeline with Ramires' goal," he added.