Lionel Messi has slammed Barcelona fans’ decision to jeer Philippe Coutinho during their Champions League semi-final victory over Liverpool.
The Brazilian has struggled to meet expectations since moving from Liverpool in a £146million deal back in January 2018 and contributed little on Wednesday night against his former club.
He was hooked after an hour and was whistled off the pitch by his own supporters as Nelson Semedo came on to replace him.
Messi, who bagged a brace to give Barcelona the ascendancy in the tie, blasted the home fans for their treatment of Coutinho.
‘Its ugly that they whistle a team-mate like this,’ Messi said after the final whistle.
‘We are all in this together. We have to be united to the end because we are close to are objective now.’
Barcelona will head to Anfield next week as the overwhelming favourites to qualify for the final after a 3-0 first-leg victory.
Luis Suarez came back to haunt his old side by converting a teasing cross from Jordi Alba to net the opening goal – his first in the Champions League this season.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
