"You lower your intensity, your rival can get past you" - Barcelona manager Xavi reveals he spoke to Lionel Messi after Real Madrid vs PSG
Barcelona boss Xavi has disclosed that he was in touch with Lionel Messi after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League.
PSG boasted a two-goal lead overall at half-time in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie with Real Madrid last week. However, a second-half hat-trick from Karim Benzema handed Los Blancos a 3-2 win on aggregate, throwing the Parisians out of the competition.
PSG's exit from the Champions League has come as a huge blow to Messi. The Argentinean swapped Barcelona for the Parisians last summer, but the move has been underwhelming for him so far. The upset in Europe will only add to his disappointments.
As Messi suffered a major shock in Madrid, Xavi was quick to send his former team-mate a message of encouragement. The Blaugrana boss insisted that such upsets are part of football. Speaking ahead of Barcelona's La Liga clash with CA Osasuna, the Spaniard told a press conference (via FootballEspana.net):
“I have a friendship with Messi and I sent him some simple encouragement and nothing else. It is part of football, when it seemed like it was going well for PSG, Real Madrid showed up and turned it around. The Champions League is like that. When you lower your intensity, your rival can get past you.”
🗣️ Xavi: “Messi is my friend, and after the elimination I sent him a message of encouragement and support… This is football.” https://t.co/xbL9jJl4ti
Xavi will be focused on leading his side to a victory over Osasuna on Sunday evening. The Catalans currently sit fourth in the La Liga table with 48 points from 26 matches.
Messi, on the other hand, will be keen to help PSG bounce back from their defeat to Real Madrid. Mauricio Pochettino's side are set to host Bordeaux in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
How has Lionel Messi fared for PSG following Barcelona exit
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Parisians last summer. While his arrival excited fans in France, many have deemed his time with Mauricio Pochettino's side to be underwhelming so far.
The Argentina international has made 25 appearances across all competitions for the Ligue 1 giants. He has found the back of the net seven times in the process, while providing 11 assists for his team-mates.
💥💥 L'OPCIÓ D'UN RETORN DE MESSI AL BARÇA SERIA A L'ESTIU DEL 2023
🗣 "L'entorn de Messi em descarta que pugui arribar aquest estiu del 2022"
🗣 "L'estiu del 2023, Messi podria anar una última temporada al Barça abans d'anar als USA"
Ho explica @SebaQuadrelli a #laporteria https://t.co/UOKkyh54Y6
There have been suggestions that the superstar is not entirely happy in Paris. The 34-year-old could thus return to Barcelona soon. According to reports, he could rejoin the Blaugrana for one season in 2023 before moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.