Valencia centre-back Shkodran Mustafi has apologised to the Spanish club's fans for their humiliating defeat at Barcelona on Wednesday night.
Los Che were thumped 7-0 at Camp Nou in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final in a match that saw Mustafi sent off in the latter stages of the first period.
The German defender, who saw red for a last-man challenge on Lionel Messi, has admitted that the squad will take time to get over the defeat, but has insisted that they will "face the next days as men".
"We have to apologise to the fans and the people working for this club. We can't have forgiveness without a reaction. It's not the time to speak of other teams. It's not easy but we have to get up. We have to face the next few days as men," Mustafi told reporters.
"I don't look at who makes mistakes. We're all in good times or bad times. The locker room is in this mess. I believe in this team, that's why I signed for this club.
"We were a team last year and we are in this one. For a lot of people this was the worst game of their career. We have to raise our heads as men and grow. The locker room has to get out of this. The return leg isn't to turn the game around but to ask for forgiveness."
The second leg of the semi-final will take place at the Mestalla next week.
