Coach Enrique regrets Barcelona's exit from Champions League

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique regretted his side's elimination from the Champions League quarter-finals after their 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium here.

"Our target was to retain the title and our hopes were high. We won't be winning it this year and the team are feeling sad," the coach said in a post-match press conference on Wednesday, reports Efe.

Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann scored two goals against Barcelona in the second leg to send his side into the Champions League semi-finals, overturning a 1-2-defeat in the first leg to win 302 on aggregate.

Enrique added that "right now we simply have to accept the defeat, understand this as the kind of thing that happens in sport and turn to the other targets that we have on the horizon."

The Spanish coach explained that Wednesday night was neither "our best moment, nor our most effective."

The Catalan club coach congratulated Atletico Madrid for the victory and wished them good luck.

However, Enrique said he is "very proud" of his players and apologised to all fans for this elimination.