Lionel Messi: There are a lot of lies made up about me
Key quotes from the Argentine star's interview on the radio
Lionel Messi spoke to Radio Club October 94.7 radio station in Argentina about some of the criticism he has received while playing for his national team. Here are some of his key quotes…
2014 World Cup final defeat: “Do you know the number of times I’ve replayed the final and the chances we had? It would have been so different if we’d scored one of them.”
2018 World Cup: “There were so many things that went wrong from the beginning. Not being able to win the first match, missing the penalty. The second game was even but after the first goal it all went wrong. We were disorganised.”
Suffering: “After the World Cup I didn’t want to talk. I wanted to be locked up and suffer by myself, with my family, to get away from it all. Get away from the national team and look at things in the cold light of day. We’ve been mistreated for a decade despite our achievements.”
Critics over injury pull-out: “There are a lot of lies and made up stuff. It makes me angry that people believe what is said. They have made things up about me, invented them, when I’m not. The truth is that I’ve had a problem since before the December break and been training only a little, not playing in all the games.”
Lies: “It makes me so angry the nonsense they peddle about my father having a say in the national team, they say that he has the power to do things with the AFA. The family suffers. I have friends, brothers, who suffer for the lies they say and the people buy it. Then I’m the son of a bitch.
Getafe goal his best? “I wouldn’t have chosen that one, I’d have gone for the one against Madrid in the Champions League semis at the Bernabeu, or the header against Man United.”
Retirement: “I am going to stretch out my retirement as long as I can. I would love to end my career at Newell’s but it’s not easy. Sincerely, I don’t know.”
National team improving: “Being realistic, a lot of work is needed to be a powerhouse. These kids have played very few matches for the national team. We need to be patient and I have no doubt that we are going to be strong.”
Cristiano Ronaldo: “I miss Cristiano in Spain. It was lovely having him here, even though it annoyed me seeing him win so many titles. It would be great if he was still here.”
