Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta rejected the notion that the 4-0 hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain was down to the players' attitudes.
The La Liga outfit were comprehensively outplayed by Unai Emery's side in a memorable display at the Parc des Princes, leaving Barcelona's hopes of Champions League progression all but over.
But the Barca skipper insisted the humbling defeat was not down to a complacency and his side will be ready to dust themselves off for the return leg.
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Andres Iniesta believes his team have the attitude to pick themselves up after Paris defeat
Rio Ferdinand claimed it was the worst he had seen Lionel Messi play for Luis Enrique's side
'We had a bad day in every way,' Iniesta told Mundo Deportivo. 'In the return we have to try to get as close as possible to turn it around, which is very difficult but we will give everything.
'The word "attitude" is one I have never liked and I do not think it is linked to these players or this team.
'In the end it is a matter of football. I do not like to talk about attitude when it is not [the reason for the defeat].
'It's a game and they have overcome us playing football and taking advantage of all their qualities. We have not been able to in any moment of the match.'
Angel Di Maria opened the scoring with an unstoppable free-kick just 18 minutes into the tie
Julian Draxler doubled the lead when he drilled past Marc-Andre ter Stegen before half time
Di Maria added his second of the night and put the game beyond all doubt after 55 minutes
PSG's top scorer Edinson Cavani sealed the 4-0 defeat when he smashed home late on in Paris
The lacklustre performance did not go unnoticed by the BT Sport pundits, who tore into the Barcelona display.
Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard leveled the blame at the whole team for turning out the below par performance in Paris.
'That's the worst I've seen Barcelona and Messi play in recent years but all credit has to go to this Paris Saint-Germain side, they had the nerve and they were positive,' Ferdinand said.
Barcelona's next six fixtures 19 February - Leganes 26 February - Atletico Madrid 1 March - Sporting Gijon 4 March - Celta Vigo 8 March - Paris Saint-Germain 12 March - Deportivo La Coruna
Ferdinand was not alone in his criticism of Luis Enrique's side. Fellow pundit Gerrard also delivered his own verdict in the post-match analysis.
'He (Messi) wasn't alone, many more Barca players struggled all night and showed zero effort, especially when they lost the ball,' said Gerrard.
'There was no reaction all night from any of them.'
They will have to overturn the four-goal deficit at the Nou Camp when the French giants make the trip next month.
Barcelona are a point adrift of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, with the leaders having two games in hand.
But Iniesta, a four-time Champions League winner with the club, believes his side are fully focused on regaining their best form after the defeat.
'It is difficult, these things sometimes happen and it hurts. It is a bad night for everyone. It will cost us to take in this defeat,' Iniesta added.
'We have to get up, turn the page as fast as possible. We have the other competitions, do not forget that.
'When the return comes we will try everything to get closer but it is a tie that is very complicated.'