Pep Guardiola refused to blame Barcelona's long journey to Italy for their 3-1 defeat by Inter Milan.
The ongoing travel chaos affecting European air travel meant the Catalan giants had to take the bus to Giuseppe Meazza.
A tiring trip appeared to take its toll on the reigning European champions, as they came unstuck against Jose Mourinho's men.
However, Guardiola insists his players should have needed no added motivation for a UEFA Champions League semi-final and offered no excuses for the lacklustre showing.
"I don't want to make excuses," he told Sky Sports.
"It was a long trip, that is true, but this is the semi-finals of the Champions League and the desire to reach the final should be important enough.
"It's okay, though, this happens."
Barca broke the deadlock through Pedro, but the hosts hit back in style as Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito all found the target.
"We started with a goal but we didn't play enough football in the first half," said Guardiola.
"We didn't move the ball with passion. We played against a good team under difficult circumstances, but there is one game left and we are going to try."
Guardiola is confident Barcelona can still progress to the final and hopes he will be able to play to his side's strengths in the return date at Camp Nou.
He added: "We are going to try. In Barcelona will have one chance. We will try and attack and we will put water on the field, we want the ball to move quicker.
"We are going to try and we should see a good game."
