Barcelona coach Xavi defended his players after their Copa del Rey quarterfinal defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

Barca lost 4-2 as Athletic's Inaki and Nico Williams both struck in extra-time.

Xavi later said: "We have tried, we have competed very well against a great team. It is a very strong block at home. When the draw was made, I already saw that it was a difficult.

"There were many phases of the match and we had the winning goal before the extra time. They are intense, aggressive. Difficult match. But we have to think about LaLiga and the Champions League. We can be proud, we have tried until the end.

"It's a lack of concentration, specific mistakes... football is a game of mistakes that we haven't minimised. We've had them. We've had the victory. I'm proud of the young boys. That's the Cup.

"We will try to win LaLiga and the Champions League. I am calm. The most important titles remain. We will fight for them.

"The feeling is one of disappointment, we lose a title in which we had a lot of hope. The scenario was complicated. You lose, in extra time. Athletic deserved to go through. But I also feel pride, the young people, above all, are doing very well. It's a shame. It's a toss-up game. Athletic is aggressive and intense in their field. I've told them that I'm proud because we've done our best.

"Lamine played a great game. And Héctor Fort and Cubarsí... and Fermín was going to come in, but because of the lineup we couldn't. We have LaLiga and the Champions League left. I have an important point of pride."