Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard admitted he was upset that his last match at the Nou Camp had ended in defeat.
Barca surrendered a two-goal lead to go down to a 3-2 defeat to Real Mallorca.
The defeat, which followed Barca’s 4-1 thrashing by arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, sparked angry protests from the home fans who jeered the players and called for club president Joan Laporta’s resignation.
“It was a very sad night,” the Dutchman said. “We expected this sort of reaction, but as coach I’m sad that we had to play in an atmosphere like that.
“I didn’t expect the end of the season to be so difficult. It hasn’t been easy and we haven’t been able to change the dynamics of the team. It is very difficult to play when things are like that.”
The defeat came just three days after the club confirmed that Rijkaard would be leaving the club and be replaced by former captain Pep Guardiola as coach at the end of the season.
Rijkaard was cheered by fans every time he got out of the dugout during Sunday’s match.
Sporting director Txiki Begiristain said the fans’ reaction indicated the affection held for Rijkaard, who steered the club to back-to-back league titles and victory in the Champions League in his first three seasons at the Nou Camp.
“The people who came to the match paid tribute to a good and successful coach and also to his behaviour and the respect he has shown for the club,” he told reporters.
