• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Lionel Messi admits Barcelona players 'hated' Premier League club more than Real Madrid

Home> Football> La Liga

Updated 07:51 30 Sep 2024 GMT+1Published 16:37 29 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Lionel Messi admits Barcelona players 'hated' Premier League club more than Real Madrid

The former Barcelona forward said he "never thought" he would hear himself make such a comment.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Featured Image Credit: Perros de la calle - Getty Images

Topics: Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Real Madrid

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Lionel Messi once admitted that Barcelona players "hated" a Premier League club more than bitter rivals Real Madrid – and it was something he "never thought" he would say.

The Argentine was only 18-years-old when he decided to go public with the comments during an interview with the News of the World in 2005.

At the time, there was bad blood between Barcelona and Chelsea after the Blues produced a memorable comeback at Stamford Bridge in what was a dramatic Champions League last-16 clash.

Advert

A week earlier, Jose Mourinho made some not-so-subtle comments about referee Anders Frisk after Didier Drogba was controversially sent off in the first leg.

The two-legged clash left a bitter taste in the mouth of Barcelona players. In fact, ahead of their last-16 clash in 2006, a teenage Messi was vocal about Chelsea.

"There are [Barcelona] players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid," he said.

"I never thought I would hear myself say that. I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil vs Argentina - but this is.

Advert

"We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea."

Messi would go on to produce another out-of-this-world display for the Catalan side, despite being hacked down by Chelsea defender Asier Del Horno, who was sent off for a shocking challenge on the Argentine.

An own goal from John Terry and a late strike from Samuel Eto'o sealed a first leg advantage before they knocked Jose Mourinho's side out following a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.

Barca would lift the Champions League that year after Juliano Belletti scored a late winner at the Stade de France against Arsenal.

Advert

Image credit: Getty
Image credit: Getty

Messi later reflected on a 2012 Champions League defeat to Chelsea as one of his biggest regrets in a Barcelona shirt.

“I would have liked to have tried to win another Champions League," he said in 2021, when he announced his decision to leave his boyhood club.

“We got knocked out in the semi-finals by Liverpool which stopped us getting to another final. We got to the semi-final with Chelsea with Pep [Guardiola], they prevented us from getting to another final.

Advert

“And I think there could have been another time where we could have won another Champions League.”

Choose your content:

7 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 7 mins ago

    David de Gea has made his feelings clear on Man Utd return as club 'explore' shock transfer

    David de Gea has already hinted at the prospect of a Manchester United return.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Roy Keane and Micah Richards in heated row live on Sky during Man Utd vs Arsenal coverage

    The former Manchester United and Man City men did not hold back when making their points live on Sky Sports.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Neymar slams 's***' Santos teammates in furious interview after 'disgraceful' defeat to rivals

    The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star berated his fellow Santos players.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Tyrone Mings and John McGinn speak out on Aston Villa selling Jacob Ramsey as two subtle digs made

    Aston Villa's decision to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United seemed to upset two of their senior players.

    Football
  • Lionel Messi helps young fan after he invades pitch during Inter Miami's MLS clash against Charlotte FC
  • Former Real Madrid goalkeeper and retired Premier League star offer services to Barcelona to replace injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen
  • Real Madrid legend risks angering Cristiano Ronaldo with surprise claim about Lionel Messi
  • Sir Alex Ferguson perfectly settled the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi GOAT debate