Brazil legend, Ronaldo believes that the Argentine superstar should be assigned blame for their failures in as much as he receives most of the praise for his team’s triumphs.
According to him, Lionel Messi should be blamed for Barcelona’s failures as he is praised for their success.
However, Messi was close to his best in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, scoring two goals which included a superb free-kick from distance to help his side to a 3-0 advantage at Camp Nou.
But Barca’s dream start finished in a nightmare as Liverpool struck back at Anfield with a 4-0 victory; doubles from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum to drive out the Liga champions.
Messi was among the litany of Barca players who struggled in the defeat, with the star man unable to reach the heights he had in the first leg or throughout the course of the season.
It was the second straight campaign the Catalan club was knocked out of the Champions League after squandering a three-goal first leg advantage, and head coach Ernesto Valverde’s position has come under scrutiny.
At a Santander event Ronaldo said “It is unfair to point the culprits to a defeat.
“I see that Barcelona has a great team and has the best player in the world, which is Messi.
“The other day I read that other players lost and Barca wins (because of) Messi. It is a tremendous injustice to all the players and the coaching staff.
“Barcelona is a great team with great players and very good coaches. You should be a little more careful with criticism.”
When asked about the result of the tie itself, Ronaldo believes Liverpool’s performance was worthy of advancing, and thinks even Barca’s mistake on the tie-clinching goal by Origi would not have saved them from eventual elimination at Anfield.
