Marcos Alonso: 'Barcelona were the better team against Chelsea'

Marcos Alonso has admitted that Barcelona "were the better team" as they knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage thanks to a 3-0 victory in the second leg of the tie.

Lionel Messi's brace at Camp Nou, either side of Ousmane Dembele's strike, saw the Blaugrana earn a 4-1 aggregate win after the first leg at Stamford Bridge ended as a 1-1 draw.

Chelsea wingback Alonso, who was denied a penalty early in the second half after a challenge by Gerard Pique, bemoaned his side's inability to convert their chances in both legs.

"They have Lionel Messi and I think they were the better team even though we competed well in both games," the Spaniard told BT Sport. "If we concede easy goals and miss the chances, then it is very difficult against this team.

"We knew they have top players and we cannot give them one metre because they can create and score. We were a little bit unlucky with the first two goals, we hit the post three times, had so many chances in both games. We have to improve and when you lose, you have to train and get better.

"They were not comfortable in the first half and we just missed the chances. It could have been 2-2 at half time but at 2-0 in this stadium, against this team, it is not easy to come back."

Chelsea return to action on Sunday when they visit Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.