‘I don’t know what went through his head to say that’: Lionel Messi reopens his row with Eric Abidal as he admits Barcelona are not good enough to win the Champions League thanks to ‘silly mistakes’
- Lionel Messi has reassured Barcelona fans that he won’t be leaving the club
- The Argentine also questioned Eric Abidal’s comments over Valverde’s sacking
- Messi admitted he ‘felt attacked’ by his former team-mate and responded
- Barcelona skipper also believes the club aren’t good enough to conquer Europe
Lionel Messi has revisited his argument with Eric Abidal by admitting that he responded to his former team-mate’s criticism because he ‘felt attacked’.
The pair’s spectacular fall-out came after the latter suggested that members of the squad were responsible for Ernesto Valverde losing his job last month.
The row led to questions whether Messi’s time at the Nou Camp was coming to an end as Manchester City and other clubs monitored his situation.
Lionel Messi has revisited his row with Eric Abidal over Ernesto Valverde’s sacking last month
However, in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Messi put Barca supporters’ minds at ease by insisting that leaving the Nou Camp hasn’t cross his mind while he questioned Abidal’s initial comments.
‘I don’t know what went through his head to say that,’ Messi said. ‘I responded because I felt attacked. I felt that he was attacking the players.
‘Too many things are already said about the dressing room, like that we control everything, that we choose the players and [what happens to] the coaches; and [it’s said] about me especially: that I have lots of power and decide things.’
Messi also believes he and his team-mates are a long way off from winning another Champions League trophy.
More to follow
