Robert Lewandowski has admitted he is bitterly disappointed after Barcelona's elimination from the Champions League, but feels the team can use the experience to improve moving forward.
Barcelona were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Lewandowski's former club Bayern Munich last Wednesday, meaning they will drop into the Europa League for the second successive season in the new year.
Lewandowski joined Barcelona in the summer, but has been unable to transform the team's fortunes in Europe. The Polish striker has revealed that he is frustrated at dropping out of Europe's elite club competition, but believes the club can get back on track under manager Xaxi with 'time and patience'.
'Obviously I’m not happy, Barcelona should be in the last 16,' Lewandowski told La Vanguardia.
'But before I came to Barça I was already aware that the first season could definitely be more difficult than it should be.
'We are in the process of rebuilding which takes time, we must be patient. I’m sure these setbacks will make us grow as a team and that everything will be different next season.
'We are evolving. I wasn’t expecting to arrive and that everything would go well in season one. I insist that it is a process that requires time and patience.'
From a personal perspective, Lewandowski has started very positively at Barcelona, scoring 18 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.
The latest of those came on Saturday when he scored a stoppage-time winner against Valencia.
With Real Madrid only drawing at home to Girona the following day, Barcelona are now just a point behind their rivals at the top of LaLiga.
However, their European fate has already been sealed ahead of their final group game away at Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.