Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has stated there is ‘nothing more to say’ after his call last week for ‘a lot of changes’ at Camp Nou, following a series of internal talks in the wake of Real Madrid’s La Liga title win.
Now that everything has been aired, Messi insists the only thing that needs to happen now is for the necessary changes to actually happen ahead of the restart of the Champions League next month – Barça are tied 1-1 with Napoli midway through a delicately balanced last 16 clash.
Speaking after last Thursday’s defeat to Osasuna, Messi suggested that Barça have become a ‘very irregular team that lets its head drop too easily’ this season.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner also stated: “There is obviously room for improvement and we need to start thinking about the Champions League. We all want to win it. But we need to be self-critical, improve a lot, and change a lot. I hope we get it all done in time.”
Now, Messi is satisfied that everything that needed to said has been said.
“We have said what we needed to say. We have spoken internally and been self-critical. There is nothing more to say, but to show the change,” he told Movistar+ following a resurgent 5-0 Barça win – albeit too little too late – against Alaves in the final game of the league campaign.
Barça now have just shy of three weeks to prepare to face Napoli at Camp Nou in a bid for their first Champions League title since 2015. The winner of that tie, for which the Catalans hold a slight advantage courtesy of the away goal scored by Antoine Griezmann back in February, will play either Bayern Munich or Chelsea.
Messi may need persuading to stay at Camp Nou beyond the end of next season. The 33-year-old is increasingly rumoured to be fed up and a report in Spain earlier this month claimed that his intention at this moment in time is to quit the club next summer.
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