Barcelona defender Gerard Pique lamented a "horrible first half" that saw them slip to a 2-1 defeat to Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Gerardo Martino's side went in two goals down at the break, and Pique said that the opening 45 minutes simply weren't good enough.

"We played a horrible first half," Pique told reporters.

"There is no excuse - it was a disaster. What happened in the first half can't happen again. The attitude wasn't right; the whole team know that."

Despite the loss, Barca have still qualified from Group H.

Written by
Paul Gorst