Cubarsi and Martinez react after Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid – ‘When you give gifts…’ | OneFootball

Pau Cubarsi put in a strong performance for Barcelona in the thrilling 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final.

However, despite the excitement of scoring his first goal for the club, the young defender was left with mixed feelings after the match.

“We are angry about the last ten minutes the team has played, we have not been at our level. We deserve the draw,” he began saying.

Cubarsi played a crucial role in Barcelona’s, making his presence felt in both defence and attack. His goal was a special moment, a personal milestone that showcased his growing influence within the team.

Honest assessment

Pau Cubarsi scored his first goal for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona were dominant for most of the game, but a lapse in concentration towards the end saw them let a hard-earned lead slip away. The draw, in a match where they were arguably the superior side, felt like a missed opportunity.

Cubarsi acknowledged that the team could have managed the closing stages better and understood the importance of staying focused for the full 90 minutes.

With the return leg set for April 2, he knows the second leg “will be a final at the Metropolitano”, where Barcelona must be at their best to secure a place in the final.

“I was waiting for it and I kissed the badge because Barça is the club of my life,” he added.

Inigo Martinez reacts

Another Barcelona defender, Inigo Martinez, also got on the scoresheet and shared similar sentiments after the game.

He felt that Barcelona should have won comfortably, as they created enough chances to score even more goals. However, mistakes at key moments proved costly.

Inigo Martinez admitted Barcelona made several errors against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

He pointed out that Atletico are a team that punishes errors ruthlessly, and Barcelona gifted them opportunities that they took full advantage of.

“When you give gifts to these Atletico players, they obviously score goals. We were far superior.

“I think this match could have ended 6-2, but it ended 4-4 and it will be difficult to return to a field as difficult as theirs, but if we do things the way we know how we will succeed,” he said.

Martinez stressed that football is about making the right decisions at crucial moments. While Barcelona played brilliantly for most of the game, costly mistakes at both the start and the end undermined their efforts.

“We made two mistakes at the end and two at the start. Everything looked good, but we saw that this team has to be focused throughout the match.”

He also recalled that Atletico had managed a similar late comeback against them in La Liga, reinforcing the need for full concentration throughout the match.

“They smelled blood at the end, they did the same thing to us in the league. Now we have to rest and keep winning in the league,” he noted.

Now, with the second leg approaching, Barcelona must quickly shift their focus back to league matches. While the Copa del Rey tie remains wide open, maintaining momentum in domestic competition will be crucial.

Source: Mundo Deportivo