Quique Setien encouraged by Barça performance in Copa del Rey exit

Barcelona coach Quique Setien saw reason for encouragement despite watching his side get knocked out of the Copa del Rey to Athletic Club on Thursday. 

Iñaki Williams scored the only goal of the game in stoppage time after Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ansu Fati had squandered chances for Barça. 

Setien was happy with his side's performance, though, even if he was disappointed to see the Copa slip away for another year. 

On the game:

"The result is always the most important thing but the sensations are also important. The team played well today. I think we were the better side. It's not easy to control the game against Athletic, but I don't think Ter Stegen had a save to make in the whole game. In the second half, we had four or five clear chances and their goal's arrived with no time to react. The game went as we wanted in the second half, it's shame we couldn't get ahead because they weren't comfortable." 

Missed chances: 

"In all the years I've spent in football, you get days when you have one chance and take it and others when you get 10 and score none. I don't know if it's inspiration, confidence or what... There are somethings that not even the coaches or the players can control and that's one of them." 

Step forward

"Everything went well except for the result. It's sad to get knocked out, but I think we took a step forward in terms of where we must improve. A lot of things beyond the result will stay with me from a really complicated and difficult game."