Mourinho Calls Messi

By Joshua Walters

Jose Mourinho has referred to Lionel Messi as the ‘God of football’ after the Argentine’s impressive contribution to Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final game.

The Catalans have their noses in front after denting Liverpool’s hopes of progressing to their second consecutive final in the Champions League.

Messi’s second half brace added to Luis Suarez’s first half strike as Barcelona bid to win Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2015.

Messi’s two goals on the night took him to 600 career goals for Barcelona, a feat he achieved just a few days after rival Cristiano Ronaldo had reached the same landmark in Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in Serie A.

Mourinho was impressed by Liverpool’s performance despite the loss but points out that the difference between the two sides was Lionel Messi.

“I don’t think in the past 20 years, many teams in the Champions League beat Barcelona in ball possession in the Champions League,” Mourinho said after the game.

“God of football[Messi] made it completely different. Of course Barca have a good team, phenomenal players, but that player is absolutely incredible."

Mourinho met Messi in the Champions League for the first time in the round of 16 in the 2005/2006 season when the Portuguese was in charge of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge; a game Barcelona won 2-1 after Messi got Chelsea defender Assier Del Horno sent off.

Barcelona are chasing the treble this season with La Liga already secured while they are still in contention for the Champions League and the Copa del Rey, a competition whose final is set to be played on the 25th of May against Valencia.

Messi has scored 34 goals in 30 La Liga games while his nine appearances in the Champions League has yielded 12 goals.