Lionel Messi says he is not angry with Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman for criticising his performance level.
Koeman’s criticism is believed to be coming from the team’s 1-0 loss against Getafe. The skipper has therefore acknowledged that his recent form is not good enough.
The maestro has just one goal in four games for the Blaugrana this campaign and was below par in the weekend defeat at Getafe. But he was abel to add to his tally against Hungarian visitors, Ferencvaros at the Camp Nou scoring from the spot kick in the 5-1 rout.
This shows that Messi has been been self-critical by accepting that his level of performance will improve needs to improve.
“Maybe, right now, Messi’s performances could be better. But he is happy, he is working hard and he wants to be the captain of this team.
“I do not have a single complaint. He has also had some bad luck. He hit the post and in another game that will be a goal.
“I don’t have any doubts about his performances and we are going to see him back to his best in the games to come, I am sure,” Koeman told reporters.
Concern for Messi?
Messi had tendered his transfer request during the summer window but it was turned down, with the club insisting he honours his contract which expires in June 2021.
After changing his mind to stay, Messi before last night only scored a penalty against Villarreal in a 4-1 win.
Coincidentally his next goal came last night from the penalty spot as well. In his last 19 games, Messi has scored just seven goals since football resumed in Spain in June – four of which were penalties.
This is a cause for concern for a player who has averaged close to a goal per game for much of the past decade.
With a goal in his last game, it could be a confidence booster for the captain. His next task will be against fellow title rivals, Real Madrid, in the El Classico derby. Both teams are going into the clash on the back of defeats against Cadiz and Getafe.
