Messi and Abidal
Lionel Messi has criticised Barcelona sporting director, Eric
Abidal for saying players were not working hard under former coach
Ernesto Valverde, according to BBC Sports.
Valverde was sacked in January and replaced by Quique Setien.
Abidal, a former team-mate of Messi, made the comments in an interview with Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.
But on Tuesday Messi, 32, responded: “When you talk about players,
you have to give names because if not, it gives air to things which are
not true.”
Valverde was sacked when Barcelona were top of La Liga.
In the newspaper interview Abidal said: “Many players weren’t
satisfied or working hard and there was also an internal communication
problem.
“The relationship between the coach and the dressing room has
always been good but there are things as an ex-player that I could
smell. I told the club what I thought and we reached a decision [on
Valverde].”
Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi responded on Instagram, writing: “Sincerely,
I don’t like to do these things but I think that people have to be
responsible for their jobs and own their decisions.
“The players [are responsible] for what happens on the pitch
and we are the first to admit when we haven’t been good. The heads of
the sports department have to take their responsibilities too and above
all own the decisions they make.”
In his interview with Diario Sport, Abidal also said he thought
Messi was happy at the club and a new contract for the Argentine
talisman was currently being negotiated.