Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
FC Barcelona head coach Gerardo Martino has described Lionel Messi's brace against Sevilla as the best way to answer his critics after helping his team to a 4-1 comfortable win on Sunday.
The Catalans came from one-goal down after Sevilla went in front through a deflected strike by Alberto Moreno, but Messi inspired his side's revival as he assisted Alexis Sanchez to bundle home the equaliser before finishing off a fine counter-attack with a stunning half-volley just before half-time.
The four-time FIFA World Player of the Year doubled his tally for the evening with another sweet finish from Andres Iniesta's pass 11 minutes after the break and Cesc Fabregas rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.
Messi, who returned from a hamstring injury early this year has been struggling with goal scoring, but his coach Martino insisted that the Argentinean captain only needs time before to pick-up form in front of goal.
"Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don't realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens." Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino
"I always say the same with respect to Leo," Martino said. "I never run the risk of going over the top with him.
"Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don't realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens," he was quoted as saying on FIFA.com
The Catalans came from one-goal down after Sevilla went in front through a deflected strike by Alberto Moreno, but Messi inspired his side's revival as he assisted Alexis Sanchez to bundle home the equaliser before finishing off a fine counter-attack with a stunning half-volley just before half-time.
The four-time FIFA World Player of the Year doubled his tally for the evening with another sweet finish from Andres Iniesta's pass 11 minutes after the break and Cesc Fabregas rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.
Messi, who returned from a hamstring injury early this year has been struggling with goal scoring, but his coach Martino insisted that the Argentinean captain only needs time before to pick-up form in front of goal.
"Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don't realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens." Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino
"I always say the same with respect to Leo," Martino said. "I never run the risk of going over the top with him.
"Those that do say something negative about him sometimes don't realise what they are doing is affecting his pride and, when you do that to the best player in the world, this is what happens," he was quoted as saying on FIFA.com
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