Barcelona deserve to win final says Messi

Thursday 21 May 2009 12:01 BST
Comments
Messi came through the youth ranks at Barcelona
Messi came through the youth ranks at Barcelona (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi believes that Barcelona 'deserve' to win the Champions League Final.

The tournament's eight-goal leading scorer believes Barca deserve to overcome Manchester United in Rome next week because they suffered more in reaching the showpiece.

Referring to his side's dramatic stoppage-time success over Chelsea in the semi-finals, he said: "We were suffering right up until stoppage time at Stamford Bridge. But that's one more proof that we deserve to win the Champions League.

"The fact we beat Chelsea, and the manner in which we did it, shows Barcelona aren't just a good team - we have impressive mental strength too.

"In Spain, Chelsea gave us no space. They put four or five men in defence and we couldn't score past them. But that didn't make us give up.

"We were at their place and we were losing from early on but we gave them a fight right to the end.

"That last move was just glorious - my heart nearly exploded when I saw Andreas Iniesta's shot go in."

Real Madrid have decided to dispense with the services of sporting director Predrag Mijatovic.

The 40-year-old former Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro international joined the Real support staff in the summer of 2006, having played for the Bernabeu club for three years in the 1990s.

A statement on the club's official website read: “Real Madrid's board of directors and the club's sporting director, Pedja Mijatovic, have reached a mutual agreement for the termination of the latter's contract, which was originally set to end in June 2010.

“The board wishes to express its most sincere gratitude for the work he has done in the past three seasons, during which the club won two league titles and one Spanish SuperCopa.

“Real Madrid and its board wish Mijatovic all the best in his future personal and professional endeavours.”

Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop has called for a truce in the criticism aimed at coach Manolo Jimenez.

Jimenez is rumoured to be on his way out of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this summer following a disappointing season.

But Palop has called for everybody concerned with the club to focus on the final two games of the season as the Andalucian club looks to secure a Champions League place.

"A lot has been said about the coach and right now we are in a very important sporting moment," he said.

"We are two games from the end of the season and we will see how the team finishes. After that, it is left for the directors and they will be the ones to decide."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in