“I never thought I would hear myself say that” - When Lionel Messi named Premier League club Barcelona players hated more than Real Madrid
Lionel Messi once admitted that his former club Barcelona hated Premier League giants Chelsea more than their La Liga rivals Real Madrid. The Argentine has faced the Blues 10 times, all of which came in the UEFA Champions League during his time at Barca.
In the early 2000s, Chelsea were considered one of the most feared teams in Europe. Their rift with Barca intensified after the Blues made a sensational comeback against the Blaugrana in the Round of 16 second leg in the 2004-05 season en route a 5-4 aggregate victory.
Barcelona once again faced Chelsea in the UCL Round of 16 in the 2005-06 season, winning the first leg 2-1. An 18-year-old Lionel Messi's comments about the Blues came in an interview with News of the World in 2006, ahead of his side facing Chelsea in the Round of 16 second leg. Messi said (via SPORTBible):
"There are (Barcelona) players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid. I never thought I would hear myself say that. I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil vs Argentina - but this is.
"We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea."
The aforementioned second leg eventually worked in favour of Messi's side, as Barca achieved a 3-2 aggregate victory following a 1-1 draw. The Blaugrana went on to win the Champions League that season.
Lionel Messi went on to face Chelsea in the Champions League three more times, in the 2008-09, 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons respectively. Barca emerged victorious the first time but lost to the Blues on aggregate on the two other occasions.
"There could have been another time" - When Lionel Messi hoped he could win another Champions League with Barcelona
In an interview after announcing his departure from Barcelona in 2021, Lionel Messi revealed that he would have liked to win another UEFA Champions League with the club. The Argentine said:
“I would have liked to have tried to win another Champions League. We got knocked out in the semi-finals by Liverpool, which stopped us getting to another final."
Lionel Messi was referring to Barca's infamous 4-3 aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the UCL semi-finals in the 2018-19 season, leading to the Reds eventually winning the trophy. Despite a brilliant performance from Messi in the 3-0 victory in the first leg at home, Barca lost 4-0 away in the return to get eliminated.
Messi also recalled Barcelona's Champions League semi-final loss to eventual champions Chelsea in the 2011-12 season following a 3-2 aggregate loss as one of his regrets:
"We got to the semi-final with Chelsea with Pep (Guardiola). They prevented us from getting to another final. And I think there could have been another time where we could have won another Champions League.”
According to the UEFA website, Lionel Messi has won three Champions League titles with Barcelona. Although he was a part of the club's 2005-06 UCL-winning squad, he didn't play the final due to injury.