Barcelona's 4-1 aggregate win over Chelsea in the Champions Rick Porcello Jersey League was not as straightforward as the scoreline suggests, according to head coach Ernesto Valverde.

Lionel Me si's equaliser at Stamford Bridge last month ensured the last-16 tie headed to Camp Nou all square and Barca's all-time leading goalscorer nutmegged visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to fire his team ahead after three minutes.

Me si laid on Ousmane Dembele for a rasping second and when he got the better of Courtois once more after the hour.

Barcelona provided an object le son in ruthle sne s as Chelsea matched them for long periods in general Nomar Garciaparra Jersey play, hitting the post and the cro sbar through Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger respectively.

"We suffered a lot in this game because they were pre sing really hard and creating a lot of danger Tony Conigliaro Jersey ," Valverde told a news conference, echoing the pre-match mantra of suffering voiced by opposite number Antonio Conte.

"They showed they were a great team with great players and we were lucky enough to Steve Pearce Jersey knock them out.

"I have to admit they have been a great rival, a great team. It's been a very difficult tie, both legs.

"I think we scored with the first chance we had."

For giving his side that clinical edge, Valverde hailed Me si's peerle s talent.

When you're deceived by Me si's drop of the shoulder

UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague Boston Red Sox Jersey )

"That goes with Me si's personality, the sense of responsibility that he has," he said. "He knows in certain moments stars have to come out. He forces himself to do that.

"There's no guarantee that he's going to score but he is a fantastic player. We enjoy him.

"We're lucky enough to be seeing something that will go down in history."

Luis Tiant Jersey Related Articles