While it might be easier for Paatelainen to simply shrug his shoulders and attempt to dismiss a six goal hammering as not entirely unexpected given the financial chasm which separates the respective clubs, such an approach would be to ignore the pri
mary objective of Hibs agreeing to this match in the first place.
As in accepting entry to the InterToto Cup and the trials and tribulations posed by Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg, Paatelainen approached the formidable task of confronting a side boasting an array of stars which would be the envy of all but a few clubs around the world with pragmatism. Yes, the immediate results may not prove as palatable as the Easter Road support would like, but, in his estimation, the long-term benefits promise a greater reward and to that end his players will today – and no doubt over the course of the next few days – be treated to re-run after re-run, not through any sadistic intent but the desire to impart just what went wrong and how it can be prevented in future.
Only time will tell, of course, and in the chastening few hours following what, in anyone's language, was a real chasing for Hibs, there will be many fans who will today be questioning the wisdom of what has certainly been a different approach to pre-season.
Today, however, Paatelainen remained as firm in his conviction as he was when he gave the programme of the past few weeks the green light although, as he admitted, the first of Barca's goals caused him as much pain as the sixth. And, if he were to be honest, Hibs got off lightly with Argentine star Lionel Messi teasing and tormenting to the extent they were four down with barely 27 minutes on the clock.
As hard as it was to take, Paatelainen, like the majority of the 23,390 crowd scattered around the vast acres of Murrayfield, could do little but applaud the mesmerising display from Barcelona in what was new coach Pep Guardiola's first match in charge of the Catalan giants.
Such was their performance it was hard to remember that Barca are barely 12 days into their own pre-season preparations, the extended period Hibs have "enjoyed" counting for little as the Spaniards threatened to run riot as their whirlwind start left Paatelainen's players clearly shell-shocked.
Although Hibs looked like rabbits caught in the headlights, Paatelainen insisted his own side's shortcomings shouldn't distract from Barcelona's performance as they shook off the loss of Ronaldinho and Deco with a display which quickly saw any partisan feelings disappear in favour of an appreciation of a style of football which the Edinburgh club have been associated – only on a much higher plane.
He said: "In the first half we should have defended better, some of their goals should have been avoided. Our concentration should have been better, we should have kept our shape better and we should have got closer to their players."
By then, however, the damage was done, a slack clearance from Chris Hogg rifled home by Eidur Gudjohnsen after only five minutes before Messi cut inside Rob Jones and drilled a shot in off the far post.
As entrancing as Messi was, it was hard not to feel sorry for Paul Hanlon who was left to face the trickery of a player not much older than his 18 years, the youngster involved again as an intricate move led to Gudjohnsen's shot being deflected past the helpless Andy McNeil for No.3.
Barcelona's ability to use every blade of the Murrayfield pitch pulled Hibs all over the place, the Spaniards quickly shifting the emphasis of attack from side to side, their fourth goal coming as Messi picked out the unmarked Pedro Rodriguez who sliced inside David van Zanten before dispatching yet another inch-perfect shot past McNeil.
Paatelainen said: "I was disappointed, but we knew what we were up against, we knew our defence was going to be under a lot of pressure.
"But you cannot take anything away from them, they are quality players. They are an absolutely fantastic side, their movement, passing, sharpness and finishing was all first-class. Messi is a fantastic player when you watch on TV, against your side he is a pain. He's a tremendous player, but he is not the only one."
And that point was underlined by one glance at Barca's bench, containing the likes of new signing Alexander Hleb, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto'o and 17-year-old sensation Bojan Krkic – and that's before you even mention Euro 208 heroes Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, all rested for this encounter.
Little surprise then, that Barca, continued in similar vein after the interval, Bojan rifling home after Jeffren Suarez had blocked a Jones clearance before Yaya Toure completed the rout with more than 20 minutes remaining.
Hibs chances were few and far between, Alan O'Brien, who again impressed in flashes, too short with a low cross for Steven Fletcher who later stung the palms of substitute goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto before hammering over from eight yards.
Even a consolation goal would have taken nothing away from Barcelona, leaving Paatelainen's players to head home, lick their wounds and seek to return in time for the start of the new SPL season on August 9 to show such a doing has had no effect on confidence.
Paatelainen had few doubts, saying: "On their day Barcelona are one of the best sides in the world. We got a real lesson, that's for sure but we will analyse it. We'll sit down with the players and look at it.
"There were mistakes we cannot afford to repeat, it's important we keep our shape and stay organised. We lost our shape and concentration. Because of their passing and movement we got cut up a bit. It's all about experience. Experienced players don't get fazed but all credit to our boys, they did tremendously well to battle on because it is hard being four down in 27 minutes. They showed a lot of courage.
"But I won't just shrug my shoulders. I was gutted when we lost the first goal and gutted with the sixth. Every goal is painful. It was very lonely and painful to stand our there and try to support the boys because they put a lot of effort in."
Barcelona: Valdes (Pinto 46), Corcoles, Marquez (Caceres 46), Pique, Alves (Abraham 46), Vazquez (Crosas 30, Keita 66), Pedro (Hleb 66), Messi (Jeffren 46), Sergio (Toure 46), Gudjohnsen (Eto'o 66), Henry (Bojan 46).
Hibs: McNeil (Grof 82), Van Zanten, Hogg (Canning 74), Jones, Hanlon, Murray (Thicot 46), Stevenson (Chisholm 46), Shiels (Rankin 74), O'Brien (Cropley 82), Fletcher (Morais 66), Nish.
Referee: Craig Thomson
Crowd: 23,390
