Lionel Messi admits that Barcelona's shock loss at Liverpool has tainted his first season as club captain, admitting that not even a domestic double can make up for letting the Reds walk all over them at Anfield.
Barcelona face Valencia in the Cope del Rey on Saturday hoping to complete a domestic double, but even achieving that will not get that special night at Anfield out of Messi's mind.
Liverpool somehow erased a 3-0 first leg deficit with a 4-0 hammering at Anfield as Barcelona's stars crumbled under the pressure of Jurgen Klopp's side, and that defeat still haunts Messi.
The Argentinian star was himself guilty of wilting in the red-hot atmosphere the Kop generated that night, and he admitted that it had ruined his first season as captain.
"I had a great first season as captain, apart from the Liverpool game," Messi told reporters. "Regrettably, that game has tainted the season.
Liverpool 4️⃣-0️⃣ Barcelona
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 22, 2019
One of the craziest nights Anfield has ever seen.
Unmatched passion, emotion, and drama.pic.twitter.com/KQBwYuNrUV
"We are still getting over the setback at Liverpool. It was a big blow. It was difficult to pick ourselves up as you could see in the following game.
"I haven't watched the game again, it was very similar to Roma where we went into the game and suddenly they scored. We reacted well, then they scored the second goal and we didn't compete, the worst thing is that we didn't compete. We let them walk all over us.
"We were all thinking about being champions and we were all very disappointed, first for the elimination, second for the manner, third for the fact it happened again.
"It has been a spectacular year in which we have won the league and we are in the final of the Copa del Rey. We have had a great season with the exception of the game at Liverpool.
"That game has spoilt a little the year we have had. I just want to win the final and end the season with another trophy.
Messi likened the Anfield defeat to the 1-0 extra-time loss to Germany he suffered as Argentina captain in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.
"They are two different things. A World Cup final is the biggest thing there is and it's a huge disappointment but to have a 3-0 lead and then lose the (Liverpool) tie... they are both huge disappointments," he said.
Messi remains the heartbeat of Barcelona and insists he has no plans on leaving the club he first joined as a 13-year-old in 2001.
• passion
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 23, 2019
/ˈpaʃ(ə)n/
noun
strong and barely controllable emotion.pic.twitter.com/tqpGxFhRoU
The 31-year-old said: "I want to keep competing at Barca and I have never thought about leaving the club. Nothing makes me think about not competing here."
While Ernesto Valverde has been successful at domestic level, Barca's struggles in Europe have brought the head coach's future into focus.
Messi added: "I would like Valverde to continue. Last season we did the double and this season we can do it again."
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