Trippier shifts focus to Barcelona | OneFootball

The defender felt United matched City in the opening exchanges, when they took the lead through Harvey Barnes. But he admitted that the Magpies were second best after that, and conceded that it was 'a tough one to take for us players, and especially the supporters.'

However, with a UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona on the horizon, he quickly switched his focus to that game. The current fixture list offers no room for reflection and a clash with one of the biggest clubs in Europe under the lights at St. James' Park certainly offers plenty to look forward to.

Here are some of Trippier's post-match thoughts:

On United's cup exit...

"I think the first 30 minutes, 35 minutes we matched them, Barnesy (Harvey Barnes scored a) great goal, but Man City are Man City and if you let them back in the game, they've got that individual quality to win games, and they showed that tonight.

"There's no excuses - we got beat by the better team today."

On the strong start to the game...

"No matter who you're playing at home, you have to show ourselves - and especially the supporters - that we want to be on the front foot. I thought we did that. Sometimes they dictate play and it can be difficult at times, but I thought we matched them.

"But to concede so early in the second half killed the momentum. The game certainly swung their way and then they're on top, especially when they get the third - it was a great strike. Then you're chasing the game, and then it's very difficult, because Man City show with the individuals that they have, how they kill games, how they slow games down. So it's a tough one to take for us players, and especially the supporters."

On the effect of putting to much into the previous game with Man United three days earlier with ten men...

"There's no excuses - yeah, we did go down to ten men, we put in a really strong performance and then we're playing again a few days later. But I'm not using that as an excuse, because I've been in this position, personally, throughout my whole career, and I'm sure this is where this club wants to be.

"They want to be playing every three days, they want to be playing in the Champions League, going far in every cup. So there's no excuses; as a player, as a club, you want to be playing every single competition. We just have to forget about this game now, because we've got another massive game against Barcelona."

On that Barça blockbuster...

"Like I said, this is where the club wants to be, where the club needs to be for the supporters. Of course, they're going to be disappointed with the result today, but the lads, physically, we gave everything. It was a big shift against Man United midweek, but again, no excuses.

"Now we just have to refresh, recover well and again, a massive game against Barcelona on Tuesday. I'm sure the supporters will be up for that."