Barça's Messi: We've been self-critical and now we need calm

Barça's Messi: We've been self-critical and now we need calm

Messi volvió a dar la cara tras el partido
Messi volvió a dar la cara tras el partido / | AFP

"We're all conscious of the fact we have to be much more consistent"

Leo Messi stepped forward for the postmatch interview for the second time in four days on Sunday after Barcelona beat Alaves 5-0. 

Messi had also spoken after Thursday's 2-1 loss to Osasuna, although on this occasion he was much more measured having blasted Barca as "weak" in midweek. 

"We were self-critical from the inside, which is what we needed to do," Messi said. "We realised a number of things, firstly that we have not had a good season in terms of performances or results -- as can be seen.

"I think today was a step forward in terms of attitude and commitment, which is what we must always have. Things can go one way or another but I don't think we can be beaten for desire. We have to go out with the same desire as our opponent, or even more, and the performances stem from that."  

Consistency 

"It's a big moment because we're going to be playing for something important. You don't need to have the captain's armband on to realise what we've done (this season). We're all conscious of the fact we have to be much more consistent. As the coach said the other day, there were games when we were very good in spells, but we have to maintain that over 90 minutes and in all games."   

Pichichi

Messi will probably win the Pichich for the seventh time after ending the season with 25 goals. "I have always said that individual prizes and objectives are secondary. It's true it could be an important milestone for what it means, winning it seven times. But I would have liked it to be accompanied by the league title, as it has been in the past."  

Champions League 

The Argentine insisted that important challenges still lie ahead. "I think we need a little calm now, this break, to clean our heads and come back with more desire than ever. We have said everything that needed to be said, we've been self-critical. Now it's time to work hard and give our all. There's nothing left to talk about, we just have to show that things can change and today was an important step forward in that."  

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