Lionel Messi, the balm Barcelona were hoping for
The club celebrated the message in SPORT and the dressing room is more relaxed
Sustaining the club for years, this season Lionel Messi tried to leave and left Barcelona in shock. Josep Maria Bartomeu would not let him go and eventually Messi decided he will stay for the rest of this campaign.
He gave an interview to SPORT. Messi ended the noise, put on his captain's armband and sent a message of unity.
"We should put our differences aside. I take responsibility for my mistakes, which, if they exist, were only to make a better and stronger Barcelona. But that's that, everything passes, we should concentrate on trying to do the best we can and win everything we can together ... always united and rowing in the same direction."
The tone of Messi's words will make things easier for Ronald Koeman, who is one of those who has most celebrated the change od direction. The Dutchman could see the dressing room was calmer yesterday after Mess's words.
The Argentine is back in and it changed faces in the dressing room for the better. The group knows they need a committed Messi, the crisis has been parked.
Messi will lead the team out at Celta. A stadium where he hasn't had the best of times.
Something has changed. Maybe what was Messi's Barca is now a Barca with Messi. This season could well be his last dance. But for now he is here and it's time to talk on the pitch.
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