Barcelona captain Leo Messi admits he thought coach Ernesto Valverde would be sacked after Champions League meltdown at Liverpool last season.
Barca beat the Reds 3-0 in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou, but capitulated in spectacular style in the return as Jurgen Klopp‘s side advanced to the final with a 4-0 win.
“When things like that happen, everyone thinks the worst, because the objectives laid out at the beginning of the season have not been fulfilled,” Messi told Sport when asked if he thought Valverde would be sacked.
“Something similar to the year before (the 3-0 loss and exit at Roma) had happened, although I think this was worse still.
“Everyone imagined it (Valverde’s sacking) would happen. [But] as I said at the time, he wasn’t to blame for the game we played at Anfield, nor for the result. Up until then, we’d had a great season, dominating the league from start to finish, qualifying for the cup final.
“It was more about us than the coach.”
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