GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AFP) - Schalke 04 coach Mirko Slomka says his side showed Barcelona too much respect as the Spanish giants left Germany with a 1-0 win from the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
A solitary goal from Barcelona's 17-year-old striker Bojan Krkic gave Barcelona a precious away goal and means Schalke have a mountain to climb in next Wednesday's second-leg at the Nou Camp stadium.
At 17 years and 217 days, Krkic is now the second youngest striker in Champions League history to score a goal and his strike may well have put his side in the semi-finals to face either AS Roma or Manchester United.
The goal came after a dream pass from Spanish international Xavi Hernandez split open Schalke's defence and ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry slid a pass to Krkic - after the ball rebounded off Schalke 'keeper Manuel Neuer - to bury his shot in the top of the net on 12 minutes.
It was cruel luck on Neuer, the hero in Portugal last month when his outstanding performance denied FC Porto to book the Germans into the last eight, but Slomka says his side were not aggressive enough.
"When you play Barcelona, you have to respect them, but I think we gave them too much respect today (Tuesday)," rued Slomka.
"For Barcelona's goal we left too much space and Thierry Henry profited from that, we didn't have enough courage to attack them.
"In the second half we had our chances to force an equaliser, but unfortunately we didn't take them.
"We had talked about the danger of conceding an early goal, unfortunately Manuel Neuer didn't hold onto the ball and that was an error.
"I believe we should have had a penalty for the push on Heiko Westermann.
"In spite of the result we still have our chances.
"It would have been difficult if we had lost 2-0, but we have something to believe in now."
Schalke will be without suspended Jermaine Jones for next Wednesday's clash.
Having lost four of their seven games in March, this was a confidence booster for Barcelona and coach Frank Rijkaard was pleased to take an advantage into the home leg.
"That was a very difficult game," said the former Netherlands midfielder.
"Schalke showed how strong they are and how much team spirit they have.
"We had little luck in the second half, but we worked hard and deserved the win."
And after he was shoved in the back 20 minutes from full-time in the area, Westermann was furious to have not been awarded a penalty.
"There should have been a penalty to us," he fumed.
"I was pushed by the defender.
"But I still believe we have a chance in Barcelona.
"If we play over 90 minutes like we did in the first-half, anything is possible.
"A team like Barcelona, does not forgive many missed opportunities, they had one real chance and they put it in the net.
The statistics do not lie.
Schalke shared possession, yet managed just six shots at goal compared to Barcelona's 20 and the German side have a mountain to climb if they are going to make the last four.
