‘We have a two-goal lead, let’s not be a*******’: Lionel Messi’s X-Rated call to arms for Barcelona team-mates in tunnel at half-time of Champions League victory over Napoli
- Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to victory over Napoli in the Champions League
- Messi scored a fantastic solo goal for Barcelona during second-leg of last-16 tie
- Barcelona will meet Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of Champions League
- Footage has emerged of Messi issuing an expletive rallying cry at half-time
While Lionel Messi continues to let his football do the talking, he has more than shown he has the leadership to inspire his Barcelona team-mates to glory.
Brilliant footage has emerged of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner issuing an expletive rallying cry to his Barcelona colleagues in the tunnel at half-time during their Champions League victory over Napoli.
Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win in the second-leg of the last-16 tie on Saturday, scoring a fantastic solo goal at the Nou Camp while winning a penalty which Luis Suarez duly converted.
Lionel Messi issued an expletive rallying cry to his Barcelona team-mates at half-time vs Napoli
Messi’s X-rated call to arms to his Barcelona colleagues was captured on camera at Nou Camp
And at half-time with Barcelona 3-1 up and in a commanding 4-2 lead on aggregate over Napoli, Messi was quick to let his team-mates know that their place in the quarter-finals wasn’t booked just yet.
In the video circulating on social media, Messi could be heard shouting in the Nou Camp tunnel: ‘We are going to come out strong, we have a two-goal lead, let’s not be a*******. Now we have to be calmer than ever.’
The Argentine icon then urged his team-mates to humiliate Napoli in the second-half by making the scoreline a rout.
As the players were about to make their way out for the second half, the 33-year-old added: ‘Let’s play quietly, let’s make it eight’.
Messi inspired Barcelona to victory over Napoli to seal their place in the quarter-finals
But while Barcelona didn’t go on to score any more, they eased into the last-eight of the competition – winning 4-2 on aggregate over the Serie A outfit.
Messi and Co will now take on Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, who are enjoying an incredible run of form, in the quarter-finals in Lisbon.
Bayern booked their flight to Portugal after hammering Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate during the last-16 stage.
Barcelona will have it all to do to squeeze past Bayern as they go in search of their first Champions League crown since 2015.
Barcelona secured a 4-2 victory on aggregate over Napoli in last-16 of the Champions League
