GUARDIOLA SATISFIED DESPITE DEFEAT

Guardiola - pleased to progress.

Pep Guardiola was in upbeat mood despite suffering his first defeat as Barcelona coach on Tuesday night.

The Catalan giants' impressive pre-season winning streak under their new boss came to an end as a strong Barca team slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Polish side Wisla Krakow in the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie.

However, with a 4-0 advantage from the first leg Barca were still comfortable winners overall and will be gracing the group stages of the competition for the fifth successive season, which Guardiola points out was always their main target.

"I'm very satisfied with the behaviour of the team. Our objective was to get into the Champions League and we have achieved it. I'm delighted with life," said Guardiola

"I am so happy the team is in the Champions League. We've knocked out a good side.

"I've seen so many ties of this type which have ended up being very difficult," added the coach, who had won each of his first seven matches in charge of Barca since replacing Frank Rijkaard.

"What happened is we did not know whether to attack or defend the result. We played thinking about the 4-0 in the first leg.

"It's clear that losing hurts, but regarding this match there is no possible need to reproach anybody. Generally we played a good game."

Barca striker Thierry Henry added on his club's website: "It was a somewhat strange game because we had a lot of chances but they scored the goal and we were not able to do anything.

"For the club the most important thing is that we are in the Champions League."

Looking ahead to this weekend's Primera Liga curtain-raiser against Numancia, the Frenchman added: "It will be a very tough game because I saw them play last season in the Segunda Division."