‘I read that other players lost and Barca wins because of Messi… it is a tremendous injustice’: Cristiano Ronaldo insists Argentine star must take some blame for Liverpool loss
- Barcelona were humiliated by Liverpool in their Champions League semi-final
- Lionel Messi was powerless as they crashed out with 4-0 Anfield defeat
- His great rival Cristiano Ronaldo says Messi must take a share of the blame
- Ronaldo was impressed by the ’emotional intelligence’ shown by Liverpool
Cristiano Ronaldo believes that Lionel Messi must share some of the blame for Barcelona’s humiliating Champions League exit to Liverpool.
Messi was left powerless as Barcelona crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night, surrendering their three-goal advantage from the first leg.
It means that Liverpool will take on Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English final at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on June 1.
Lionel Messi was powerless as Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League to Liverpool
Cristiano Ronaldo said Messi had to accept some of the blame for Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat
Ronaldo won’t be appearing in the showcase final for the first time since 2015 but the Juventus star still had his say on great rival Messi.
‘It is unfair to point the culprits to a defeat,’ Ronaldo said at a Santander event. ‘I see that Barcelona has a great team and has the best player in the world, which is Messi.
‘The other day I read that other players lost and Barca wins [because of] Messi. It is a tremendous injustice to all the players and the coaching staff.
‘Barcelona is a great team with great players and very good coaches. You should be a little more careful with criticism.’
While keen to comment on Barcelona, former Real Madrid star Ronaldo was at pains to praise the ’emotional intelligence’ of Liverpool’s stunning performance.
Messi cuts a dejected figure as Barcelona’s Champions League dreams were ended
The Argentine is pictured against a backdrop of jubilant Liverpool supporters at Anfield
‘[Liverpool] had more motivation, intensity and desire,’ added the Portuguese forward. ‘In the first part, Barcelona had chances to score a goal that would have changed everything.
‘But Liverpool deserved it. They have shown strength and emotional intelligence.
‘In the fourth goal there was a mistake, but I think that if it had not [been scored], it would have arrived in a different way. They played the game of their lives.
‘It’s a shame for Barcelona, because they played a great game in the first leg, we all enjoyed Messi.
‘It’s a pity that there is not a Spaniard in the final, but Liverpool deserved it more.’
