Published On 15 Apr 202615 Apr 2026Barcelona’s dream of Champions League glory was dashed for a second successive season, but once again they will hope the bitter experience can cause their burgeoning young talent to deliver next term.This faith in the youth brigade – spearheaded by teenager Lamine Yamal – is what they are left clinging to following Tuesday’s quarterfinal exit at the hands of La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listIt is a case of deja vu after last season’s defeat by Inter Milan in the semifinals.“It’s tough because everyone really believed that we could make it happen today,” said Barca coach Hansi Flick following Tuesday’s match, which Barcelona won 2-1 but went out 3-2 on aggregate.“We will analyse everything. When something like that happens, players [must] make the next step. We have a young team, and they will improve.“Every day we have to learn more, we have to be better, and this is what we have to do.”He will be mindful, though, that some of the older hands are perhaps past their sell-by date.Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski is out of contract in the summer, when he turns 38, while Barca have yet to decide if they will pay Manchester United to keep on-loan winger Marcus Rashford permanently.Neither started in the Spanish capital, along with the injured Raphinha, who was unable to play in either leg.Injuries have plagued the 29-year-old this season, raising concerns that Barca may have seen the best of him last year.Ferran Torres, Ronald Araujo and on-loan defender J …
