Barcelona forward Anthony Gordon has admitted that he failed to perform at his best during the 2-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, conceding that the French champions deserved their victory in Tuesday’s Champions League encounter.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the final whistle at the Parc des Princes, the 25-year-old offered an honest assessment of Barcelona’s first defeat of the season.
Gordon pointed to PSG’s superior intensity and quality, while Marc Bernal also reflected on the loss, insisting that the experience could help Barcelona improve over the remainder of the campaign.
Gordon admits Barcelona were second best vs PSG
Barcelona struggled to match PSG’s level throughout the contest, with the hosts demonstrating why they remain among Europe’s leading sides.
Gordon did not attempt to disguise the difference between the teams, giving credit to Luis Enrique’s side for their performance.
“They deserved it. They were the better team and had the better moments with real quality,” he began.
Anthony Gordon was self-critical after PSG defeat. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
The forward also highlighted PSG’s ability to maintain their intensity for longer, identifying a physical and tactical challenge Barcelona must address if they are to compete consistently against the strongest opponents in the Champions League.
“Athletically, they were able to sustain the pressure and intensity for longer than we were,” he added.
For Gordon, the result offered a reminder of the standards Barcelona must reach to challenge Europe’s elite.
PSG’s recent dominance has made them a benchmark for other contenders, and the Englishman acknowledged that his team still has work to do.
“They’ve been the team to beat for two years and tonight they gave a great example as to why,” he explained.
Furthermore, Gordon also turned the focus towards his own contribution, admitting that he was disappointed with his performance rather than blaming the defeat entirely on collective shortcomings.
Bernal looked at the positive from the loss. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“I don’t think I was good tonight, like the whole team. I think we want to perform better. I know I was not at my best,” he concluded.
Bernal insists Barcelona can learn from defeat
Marc Bernal, who started in place of the rested Rodri, also offered his assessment of the result.
The midfielder focused on the character Barcelona showed while acknowledging how small details can determine matches at the highest level of European football.
Speaking after the match, the Barcelona academy talent tried to pick out the positives from the loss, stating,
“It was a match we approached very well, with character, which is what Flick asked of us, but in the Champions League, matches are decided by small details.
“Now, we’ll try to improve because there’s still a long way to go and it will serve us well in the future,” he noted.