Lionel Messi spoke open and honestly about Barcelona and everything that has happened so far this season.
Usually quiet and reserved, ever since becoming Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi has gotten more into the habit of giving interviews. And when Messi speaks, everyone listens.
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That was the case with has latest exclusive with Catalan outlet, Mundo Deportivo. Messi spoke about a number of topics including the sacking of Ernesto Valverde and explained why he felt it necessary to hit out following Eric Abidal’s comments.
On how he felt about the firing of Ernesto Valverde,
"“Obviously bad, because apart from being a great manager, an even better person was leaving. I said it plenty of times, we were marked by crucial games in which we were more responsible than he was. But in the end it was easier to fire a manager than to change all of the players and managers know that’s how it is.”“Then came the loss to Atletico Madrid, where had the match all but controlled and in five minutes we were out of the Supercup. All of that caused things to end like they did and the truth is it was a shame.”Source: Mundo Deportivo"
Messi knows it works and that a manager is always going to the one to blame when things go wrong. He also knows that the players share a deal of the blame when things go wrong.
But the comments made by Eric Abidal sat wrong with him because he insinuated that the players stopped working for Valverde and that is why he needed to be let go.
"“I don’t know what was going through his head for him to say that, but I think I responded because I felt attacked. I felt he was attacking the players. And enough things are said about the locker room, like I control everything, that I bring and fire managers, bring in players and especially about me. As if I have a lot of power and make decisions.”“And it upset me that a person from the club would say this, a technical secretary … to put the players in the middle of a dismissal such as that of the coach to me was crazy. He is the technical secretary who makes the decisions and has to take responsibility. He makes the decisions. That’s why I came out to clear things up, I knew I couldn’t let this go that the sporting director would attack me in this manner.”Source: Mundo Deportivo"
Being held responsible for the firing of a manager is something no player wants and Messi felt he needed to defend himself and his teammates. He is right in that it is incredible that this was said by someone working at Barcelona. The role of a sporting director is important but should be a discrete one.
The comments made by Abidal seemed to have effected Messi quite a lot. It’s another reason why in his Instagram post, he urged Abidal to name names. He is also adamant in that he needs to take responsibility for his actions and not try to use the players as a scapegoat.
Messi’s mentioned it in other interviews but he again reiterates that he’s fed up with people thinking that he’s the “Little Dictator” and makes such decisions as who becomes manager or which players get brought in.
Looking at some of Barcelona’s most recent transfers, if he was choosing who to sign, then he does not have much of an eye for talent. Also, if he did have such power, then Neymar would have been signed over the summer.
While he may not have all the power people claim he has, his words do carry influence. He is Barcelona’s best ever player and, as mentioned, when he talks, people listen.