Sir Bobby laments killer goal

Newcastle United FC manager Sir Bobby Robson claimed that FC Barcelona's third goal in the 3-1 UEFA Cup Champions League Group A defeat in the Camp Nou ended any hope of his side staging a comeback.

Motta header
Thiago Motta rose above the defence to meet Juan Riquelme's corner on 58 minutes and although Kieron Dyer cleared the ball, he was adjudged to have been behind the line. The goal eased the pressure on the home side after striker Patrick Kluivert had put Barcelona back in front on 34 minutes.

Killer goal
Sir Bobby, making an emotional return to the club he coached in the 1996/97 season, said: "What lost us the match was their third goal, because at 2-1 the game was very open - that really killed us."

Praise for Ameobi
However, Sir Bobby was quick to praise Newcastle goalscorer Shola Ameobi, playing up front in the absence of the suspended Craig Bellamy and Alan Shearer, who cancelled out Dani García's seventh-minute opener on 24 minutes. He said: "I was delighted with Shola Ameobi. He is only 20 but he was immense. He took his goal very well and could have had three."

'Had a great time'
The Newcastle manager conceded that it was always going to be difficult to return to the Catalan capital and record a victory, but admitted that he had enjoyed his extended stay in the city after Tuesday's game was postponed due to torrential rain. "I have had a great time - a warm return to Barcelona," he said. "I'm disappointed by the result and losing to Barcelona hurts very, very badly."

Record not important
Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal, in charge of his 101st European game, watched his side equal AC Milan's ten-year record of ten consecutive wins in Europe's premier club competition, but admitted that claiming the record would not compensate for failure to reach the final. "Winning ten out of ten is, for me, not so important," he said. "What is important, is to get to the final.

'Media react against you'
"When you don't get to the final the fans and the media react against you," he added. "In my last year as coach we got to the semi-finals but lost to Valencia [CF] - so I know that it is getting to the final which is all important."

'Sorry for Bobby'
There were also words of commiseration for Sir Bobby and the Newcastle supporters from Van Gaal. "I'm sorry for Bobby that we have won I wish him luck. I liked the mentality of the English players and the support of the English crowd because they have supported their team right to the end," he said.

Newcastle not out
Van Gaal also claimed that Newcastle would still have a major say on the outcome of the group. He said: "I believe that they are not out of the running. They proved in the first round that they can come back after two defeats. I hope for Bobby that he can come back - but not at our expense."