Getafe revel in Barça's misery

Getafe revel in Barça's misery

Frank Rijkaard was left to reflect upon "one of the toughest nights I've had" after FC Barcelona lost 4-0 at Getafe CF to miss out on the Copa del Rey final.

Miraculous comeback

Leading 5-2 from the home leg, few expected Getafe to put up that much of a challenge on home soil, but they put the Spanish champions to the sword, scoring two goals in either half to set up a final meeting with Sevilla FC at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 23 June. Barça coach Rijkaard, meanwhile, was left to rue resting Lionel Messi, Lilian Thuram and Thiago Motta for the match.
'No excuses'

"There are no excuses," said Rijkaard. "This is one of the toughest nights I've had. We didn't get into our game at all from the first minute and suffered during the whole match. It's been very, very tough. Getafe deserved to win. As a sportsman I don't like saying that, but I have to congratulate them. I don't feel ashamed but I do want to apologise to the fans."
Puyol disheartened

The Spanish press were staggered at the result. Diario Sport lambasted the team's first-half performance as "45 shameful minutes in which Barcelona didn't get a single shot on target". Captain Carles Puyol added: "We thought we were in the final and from the start you could see Getafe were out to win and we were there to hold back, and that's not how we play."
Schuster in rapture

Meanwhile, Getafe's German coach Bernd Schuster was in rapture. Having papered the team's dressing room with messages of support from fans before the game, he was left to reflect upon his "best ever night as a coach". "It's the first time I have reached a cup final and I am very happy and proud," he said. "Even at 5-2 down I didn't think we would lose - it's not my style. I had a feeling we would reach the final - I even bought some champagne for tonight!"
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