Barcelona coach Luis Enrique called Athletic Bilbao "worthy champions" of the Spanish Super Cup after Monday's 1-1 draw gave the trophy to the Basque club 5-1 on aggregate.
Despite a shock 4-0 defeat in the first leg, Barcelona retained hope of flipping the scoreline as they returned home to Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi put them on the right track with a goal just before the break, but Gerard Pique's second-half dismissal largely ended Barcelona's hope of winning the "sextuple" of six trophies in 2015.
Even with the disappointing result, Luis Enrique was magnanimous after the game.
"Congratulations to Athletic for a great game, worthy of the Super Cup," he said. "A few months ago I told them they deserve a trophy, and I congratulate them. We did what we wanted to do, create doubt in our opponent.
"I understand Athletic had a great Super Cup, and are worthy champions. You have to experience winning and losing. It's good to lose so you know how nice and how hard it is to win."
The manager considered Barca unlucky not to have more than one goal by half-time but agreed Pique's red card -- given after he berated a linesman -- ended the game as a contest.
"We didn't have the luck, for example when Gerard Pique hit the crossbar, but we were at a good level," Luis Enrique said. "The game was over when [Pique was sent off]. Athletic held up well against our attacks.
"I've spoken to Pique, but it makes no sense to comment on the officials."
Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta said the tie was lost when Barcelona failed to score in the first leg. When Aritz Aduriz scored in the second leg, the away goal meant Barca needed an improbable five goals to lift the trophy.
"Maybe we were lacking a goal in the first leg to create more doubt but there's nothing to criticise the team for," Iniesta said.
"In the first leg we made too many mistakes and that made the game an uphill task. We were infinitely superior in the return."
The dream of the sextuple may have ended, but Iniesta said the defeat would not prevent Barcelona from pursuing a fifth trophy at the FIFA Club World Cup in December.
"Very few teams win three or four trophies. In December we'll be going for the fifth," Iniesta said. "Until then we also have the first part of a season which will be very interesting."
Pedro Rodriguez started Monday's game despite ongoing speculation about a possible transfer to Manchester United, but Luis Enrique stood by his decision.
"It's a difficult situation and it's hard to stay focused. I look forward to the end of the market so I know which players I have for sure," the manager said. "But I saw Pedro ready to give his maximum."