‘Spectacular’ Lionel Messi needs room to breathe, says Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde says Lionel Messi ‘needs room to breathe’ after he helped his side to a 1-0 win over Valencia in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.

Messi set up Luis Suarez to head home the only goal of the game in the second half, which gives the team a slim advantage ahead of the second leg at Mestalla.

Speaking after the game Valverde spoke about Messi and the huge expectations that are always placed upon his shoulders

“What happens with Messi is that every time he gets the ball, you expect him to do something,” he said.

”Sometimes that’s excessive because you have to let him breathe a bit, but it’s spectacular to watch him. From an improbable situation, he’s dug out a cross and we’ve scored.”

Source | ESPN

Messi’s brilliance once again proved crucial for Barca as he managed to conjure up a brilliant assist in a tightly-fought contest.

The Argentine now has eights goals and five assists in just eight games in 2018 and is having yet another absolutely brilliant season with Barca.