Rrahmani: ‘Napoli press did not work on Barcelona’ | OneFootball

Amir Rrahmani scored the only Napoli goal in Barcelona and feels they leave the Champions League ‘with heads held high,’ but admits the high press ‘didn’t work.’

It was all even after the 1-1 first leg result and the tie remained in the balance far longer than perhaps many expected at the Estadi Olimpic de Montjuic.

“We leave with heads held high, because we played in a direct and attacking fashion, even if we could’ve done better on their goals and also got an equaliser,” Rrahmani told Sport Mediaset.

“Unfortunately, if you don’t take your chances against strong opponents, you will be made to pay for it.”

Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo scored in the space of 120 seconds, but Rrahmani got the Partenopei back into the tie.

Jesper Lindstrom’s wasted free header would’ve made it 2-2 and moments later Robert Lewandowski scored for 3-1 instead, while Mathias Olivera also rattled the woodwork late on.

“We tried to use a high press, but it didn’t really work, instead it allowed Barcelona to have several counter-attacks. We didn’t press effectively.”