Lionel Messi broke down in tears after his dream of winning the Champions League for a fifth time with Barcelona collapsed against Liverpool.
The Argentina international was inconsolable in the Barcelona dressing room following the 4-0 defeat at Anfield, where the Spanish champions were on the receiving end of an incredible comeback in Europe for the second season running, having won the first leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou. Last season in the quarter-finals Barça beat Roma 4-1 at home but collapsed in the away leg to lose 3-0 in Rome and go out on away goals.
‘Shame. There is no other adjective’ – Spanish press on Barcelona’s defeat Read more
Messi was then selected for a drugs test by anti-doping officials and the team coach departed for Liverpool John Lennon Airport without him as a consequence.
Reports in the Spanish media have claimed that, on his eventual arrival at the airport, Messi was involved in an angry confrontation with a group of Barcelona supporters furious at their team’s latest collapse in the Champions League.
Luis Suárez apologised for the manner of Barcelona’s exit and insists the players are ready to face the criticism heading their way. “We are very sad, hurt,” he said. “We are human beings, we feel the pain, the frustration. We have to put our chest out for the bullets that will come now.
“It cannot be that in a minute we concede two goals. [For] the fourth goal we looked like youngsters. We have to understand all the criticism that is going to rain on us.”
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Barcelona’s president, Josep Bartomeu, described the defeat as a “disastrous night” for the club and the manager, Ernesto Valverde, accepted questions would be asked of his future following another European failure.
Terence92 on May 8th, 2019 at 12:23 UTC »
what amaze me is we knew what liverpool is capable of in the 1st leg and yet we prepare this game like the 1st leg.
Many people like me feel disappointed because of the manner of the defeat. WE thought we learn from the 1st leg but in true we did'nt.
kloppkult on May 8th, 2019 at 11:38 UTC »
"All of Barcelona's eight shots on goal against Liverpool were either taken by or directly created by Lionel Messi. "
His teammates need to do more tbh. He alone cant take the ball from liverpool's half, dribble past 5 opponents and put it into the goal, even though thats what people want to believe.
Computer_User_01 on May 8th, 2019 at 11:18 UTC »
Kind of feel for him - he has every right to feel disappointed in his team-mates, he did everything for them in the first leg.
On the other hand he's got the league title and is probably going to get the domestic double so it's hardly like his season is a write off.