Lionel Messi has given a long and interesting interview with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, in which he’s discussed the lasting effects of the defeat to Liverpool.
Despite holding a 3-0 lead from Camp Nou, Barcelona exited the Champions League last season at the semi-final stage, with Liverpool producing a legendary performance at Anfield.
Goals from Gini Wijnaldum and Divock Origi confirmed a 4-0 win, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Messi has claimed that the result was purely the fault of Barca, refusing to give us any credit – stating that what happened in Rome a year earlier began to set into their minds.
“The defeat against Liverpool was our fault, what happened to us could not happen because we came from the previous year with Rome,” he said.
“We blocked ourselves. The game in Rome came to our head and we were getting worse, but it didn’t happen because of the coach. It was not my decision either for him to stay, as it has been said. The club decided that Valverde would continue and for me and for the whole team it is a joy, which we support.”
Messi also went on to confirm the last time he spoke to president Josep Bartomeu was following the Anfield clash.