Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says his teammates panicked after they conceded an opening goal to Luis Suarez as Barcelona went on to win their Champions League last-16 first leg 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Suarez struck twice for Barca before Sergio Aguero notched for City, with a late penalty save from Hart then denying Lionel Messi a goal that may well have finished off the tie before the second leg at the Camp Nou.
While Hart praised his side's efforts as they came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to put Barca on the back foot -- until Gael Clichy's red card turned the game back in the visitors' favour -- the keeper accepted their mental fragility proved to be costly.
"It is quite evident that we pressed until the first goal and then we panicked a bit -- I think that was blatantly obvious to see," Hart told ITV. "We got ourselves together. We are playing against world-class players here and regrouped second half.
"The occasion didn't get to us, we know what we are about, but sometimes games don't go for you and maybe that was the case first half.
"The performance in the second half was fantastic. I hope that is worth something. We were good for our goal and maybe good for a result tonight, but we will go to Barcelona for the second leg with a great group of fans and belief. We will have a right go.
"As the manager kept telling us, it was only the first half of the game. As bad as the result is, 2-1 at home, we go there and we have got belief."
It's not the result we wanted but the tie is still unfinished. And as usual we'll fight 'til the end. C'mon, City!
- Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) February 24, 2015
Hart was beaten by Suarez at the World Cup in an England shirt last year, and he suffered again on Tuesday night at the hands of the Uruguay international.
The keeper, though, was not surprised to see Barca's summer signing from Liverpool play a key role in the clash.
"Luis Suarez is a fantastic player," he added. "What did they sign him for? Nearly 80 million pounds or something like that, so what do you expect? I think we controlled him well except for the two goals."