Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has thanked Lionel Messi for his efforts, despite missing a potentially match-winning penalty against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final last night.

The Ballon d'Or winner failed to extend the Catalans' lead at the Nou Camp, which eventually ended 3-2 on aggregate for Chelsea following Fernando Torres's late strike in Spain.

"We have got this far thanks to this kid," said Guardiola. "More than ever I want to thank him for what he's done. I don't doubt he will have a few bad hours now but football is like this.

"Sometimes you smile and sometimes you are sad and it's our turn to be sad and someone else is going to the final in Munich and we have to come back next year."

Chelsea will meet either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the final next month.