Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola admitted his relief after the defending champions progressed through what he described as "a terrible group" and into the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Catalan side went through with Inter Milan after a 2-1 win at Dynamo Kiev courtesy of goals by Xavi and an 86th-minute winner by Lionel Messi after the hosts had gone ahead through Artem Milevskiy.
In a group where all four sides could still have claimed a top-two spot heading into the final round of fixtures, Dynamo started the game with the hardest task as they were three points behind leaders Barca and a point behind Inter and Rubin.
Messi's brilliant late free-kick helped Barcelona secure top spot in Group F, while the Ukrainian side waved goodbye to European competition for the season.
It was a heartbreaking strike from Dynamo's point of view though, as a draw would have seen them pip Rubin to third spot and a place in the Europa League.
However, Guardiola breathed a huge sigh of relief after Barca edged through and told the club's official website, www.fcbarcelona.cat: "It is a delight to be able to continue in Europe.
"It has been very tough, a terrible group. I don't want any merit to be taken away from what we have done because we have finished top of the group.
"We could have gone out or we could have finished first. We have suffered mentally, and have come on some very tough journeys.
"Getting into the next round is thanks to everybody's effort, and not giving up. We have suffered a lot, and have had to work hard.
"It is one of the happiest days since I've been the manager here."
He also encouraged his players "to realise what they have done, because it's big".
He added: "I think it's a success to be among the best 16 teams in Europe. It is a day for us all to feel very happy. I think we will come out of this even stronger."
President Joan Laporta echoed Guardiola's sentiments in reaching the knockout phase and believed they had deserved their victory in Ukraine.
He said: "It was important to score, and I think we dominated the game. We deserved the win and to qualify for the second round."
When asked which team he would like to face, Laporta said: "All the teams are difficult. We might get hard opponents, we mustn't get over-confident. I am sure it will be attractive match, whoever we get."
In a group where all four sides could still have claimed a top-two spot heading into the final round of fixtures, Dynamo started the game with the hardest task as they were three points behind leaders Barca and a point behind Inter and Rubin.
Messi's brilliant late free-kick helped Barcelona secure top spot in Group F, while the Ukrainian side waved goodbye to European competition for the season.
It was a heartbreaking strike from Dynamo's point of view though, as a draw would have seen them pip Rubin to third spot and a place in the Europa League.
However, Guardiola breathed a huge sigh of relief after Barca edged through and told the club's official website, www.fcbarcelona.cat: "It is a delight to be able to continue in Europe.
"It has been very tough, a terrible group. I don't want any merit to be taken away from what we have done because we have finished top of the group.
"We could have gone out or we could have finished first. We have suffered mentally, and have come on some very tough journeys.
"Getting into the next round is thanks to everybody's effort, and not giving up. We have suffered a lot, and have had to work hard.
"It is one of the happiest days since I've been the manager here."
He also encouraged his players "to realise what they have done, because it's big".
He added: "I think it's a success to be among the best 16 teams in Europe. It is a day for us all to feel very happy. I think we will come out of this even stronger."
President Joan Laporta echoed Guardiola's sentiments in reaching the knockout phase and believed they had deserved their victory in Ukraine.
He said: "It was important to score, and I think we dominated the game. We deserved the win and to qualify for the second round."
When asked which team he would like to face, Laporta said: "All the teams are difficult. We might get hard opponents, we mustn't get over-confident. I am sure it will be attractive match, whoever we get."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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