It had been more than four years since Leo Messi was last in a press room with loads of journalists from various media companies in front of him. The day before yet another Copa del Rey final for Barcelona was when the Argentine finally ended this absence. He replied to everything. Without beating around the bush and showing himself to be a true leader which many had requested.
Just after the start of his intervention, he defended his coach, Ernesto Valverde, as he had done previously with Josep Maria Bartomeu. Messi said the coach was not to blame for what happened at Anfield, an embarrassing night in the club's recent history, but that does not change the intentions of the Argentinian star.
Because Messi, just in case there was any doubt, was asked if these latest setbacks in the Champions League, had made him think about leaving the club. Messi replied: "I never had any doubts, I am stil keen to be here regardless of the disappointment."
To establish a comparison, Messi used the painful defeats he has suffered in recent years with Argentina. He lost two Copa America finals and a World Cup final in three consecutive years: 2014, 2015 and 2016. "I have suffered disappointment with Argentina and I am still trying. The fact we have had disappointments doesn't change anything."
His face while the journalist was asking him the question was eye catching. annoyed, without understanding why he was being asked that. Messi is stil focussed on Barcelona and even if he has to wait another year to win the Champions League again, his passion for the shirt remains intact.
May 24, 2019