Massimiliano Allegri and his Rossoneri players were left wondering what could have been after Lionel Messi and Barcleona inflicted a 4-0 thumping on AC Milan atthe Camp Nou on Tuesday night to win the two-game UEFA Champions League Round of 16 series 4-2 on aggregate. Allegri lamented M’Baye Niang’s near-miss that hit the postjust moments before Messi scored a brilliant second goal to draw the series level before halftime.
“If Niang had scored, my choice would’ve been praised,” Allegri said, referring tohis decision to start the 18-year-old ahead of the more experienced Robinho or Bojan Krkic. “Luck was with us in the first leg with that deflection into[Kevin-Prince] Boateng’s path, this time it went against us with Niang hitting the upright.”
Both Flamini and Allegri offered praise for Barca’s brilliant performance. “We tried to play, but it was so difficult for us today,” Flamini said. “Barcelona pressed high up the field and it was tough for us to emerge. They played very quick passingtoo and deserve to be complimented.” Allegri added: “Barcelona are the strongest side in the world. Messi and [Andres] Iniesta kept dribbling with such cool heads in stoppages… Xavi was so sharp”, he admitted.