Watch: Coach Andrea Pirlo rues four big errors after Juventus elimination

Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo rued his side’s errors as the Italian champions crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Porto despite a 3-2 win over Porto in Turin on Tuesday.

Sergio Oliveira’s extra-time free-kick sent twice former winners Porto through to the quarter-finals on the away goals’ rule as the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate.

Speaking to the media after the match, Pirlo said that Juventus had committed four key errors during the tie against the Portuguese side which proved fatal for their hopes of qualification.

“When you make four big errors over two legs in the Champions League last 16, you can get eliminated,” said Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo. 

“It will take a few days to wipe this game from our minds, but then we must play every game with the right attitude, realise we’re still only in March and have time to climb the Serie A table.”

Juventus had been counting on Portuguese striker Ronaldo, the competition’s record goalscorer, and in-form Spaniard Alvaro Morata, who had scored six goals in the competition this season, to pull them through.

But Juventus’ Champions League heartache stretching back 25 years continued, falling in the first knockout round the second consecutive year after losing to French club Lyon last season.

“The work of the whole team was important to go through in a manner that was fully deserved,” said veteran Porto defender Pepe.

“It’s hard to explain by words the way we managed to react (playing with 10 men). Today we showed lots of character: the players were focused and that made it easy for us.”