Gerard Pique refuses to blame the decision not to play Messi for Barcelona’s Champions league defeat.
After Barcelona were beaten 3-0 at home and 7-0 on aggregate to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, central defender Gerard Pique was quick to dispel rumours that it was the lack of their inspirational leader that was the reason for the heavy defeat.
Speaking on BBC Sport, the defender said journalists should not blame the absence of the Argentine for the heavy loss.
“The fact Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, did not play was a factor.” Pique said
“But I do not think he would have changed things all that much.”
The centre half scored an own goal on the night, and it seems clear that he believes that despite everything that Messi could have potentially done on the field, it still would have not been enough to see them past the far superior Bayern side.
The reason why Messi did not feature at all is still up for debate, as his hamstring injury may not have been worth the risk in a game where the chances of qualifying were too big to be worth playing him at all.
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