The former stars Gary Lineker, Rio  Ferdinand , Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard were discussing the genius of Leo Messi right after Chelsea match on Wednesday night. " He's not on the same wavelength as everybody else ," said Frank Lampard, the retired Chelsea legend who, having faced Messi several times before, knows from experience. "As soon as that ball was set back — a great ball by Iniesta — you knew exactly what was going to happen. Very clinical." "It's almost as though  he stands above the field and watches it [looking] down ," opined Gary Lineker, the former Barça player and England international. But the praise for Messi didn't stop there. Rio Ferdinand's take went one step further than Lineker's. "I just feel that he — in his own eyes and in his own vision — the game just slows down for him ." " He is remarkable ," said Steven Gerrard. "Just his first touch, his movements, how clever the space

During Andres Iniesta's farewell ceremony, Pique has opened up about how the Barcelona players connect with each other off the pitch. "We have a  WhatsApp group  for the players in the first team." Piqué: "In the whatsapp group, we talk about schedules, everybody needs to know what time things are. For example, Dembélé is always late! We need to remind him when training starts!"  😂😂😂  After noticing Dembele among the other Blaugrana players, Pique giggles: " Oh, Dembele is here and he's not late? He usually isn't there when training begins." ??? I don’t want to wait long for answers. Valverde needs to go now so we can work on getting the club going in the right direction. And what about  Ernesto Valverde  then? Interviewer: "Do you guys make fun of Valverde in your whatsapp group?" Piqué: "Nah, he's not in the group." 

Who's the king of football: Pele, Maradona, Сristiano or Messi? The answer is obvious for these eleven men "For the world of football, Messi is a treasure because he is a role model for children around the world. He is incomparable. He’s in a different league.” – Barca legend  Johan Cruyff  “We all know what Leo Messi is. He is without doubt the best player in the world, but also the best in the history of football.” – Barca’s ex-coach  Luis Enrique “The more I see of Messi the more I’m convinced he’s the greatest of all time. He is a genius, what he does is like Leonardo Di Vinci. He’s everything you want to see in a player, the way he plays it with a smile on his face. I saw quite a bit of Pele and Maradona and it was difficult to split them but I’d go Messi, Pele, Maradona and then Ronaldo.” – Liverpool legend  Phil Thompson "Who is the Best Player in the World? Leo Messi. Who is the Best Player Ever? Leo Messi." – Arsenal manager  Arsene Wenger "Fella

Emery emerges as surprise Valverde replacement Barcelona have had a nightmare of the season.Valverde finds himself in scalding waters after Liverpool and Valencia defeats. Unai Emery, Arsenal's boss emerges as one of the candidates to replace Valverde.  Mundo Deportive report that Barcelona are desperate to find an apt replacement for the under-fire Ernesto Valverde, having slipped to two inexplicable defeats to Liverpool and Valencia at the end of the highly-controversial season.  The Spaniard has only been at Arsenal for a year, yet is already viewed as one of the knockout football experts who could bring Barcelona their lost European glory.  Emery won the Europa League three times in a row with Sevilla and will be looking to extend his incredible European tally with Arsenal as the Gunners are locking in on beating Chelsea in the Baku final on Wednesday.  Allegri, meanwhile, is another candidate to take over at Barcelona following Ernesto Valverde's disastrous Champio

4 main reasons for Valverde to be sacked In his blog post, our user  Ahmed Zaheer  outlines 4 main reasons why Valverde shouldn't continue as Barcelona coach. "FC BARCELONA is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and still they've not been able to win the most prestigious trophy in Europe for the last 4 years. Our coach Ernesto Valverde is to blame for our last two CL exits and he shouldn't continue as the Barcelona coach next season and here's why: 1. Winning mentality The most important thing a coach can do with the players is increasing their morale, increasing their faith, motivating them. Jurgen Klopp is the best example for that. On the other hand, Valverde doesn't seem to care. He doesn't shout at his untouchables, he doesn't get behind their backs. In simple words, he doesn't have a CL winning mentality.  2. Youth Only one player has completely broke through to the first team in the last two years. Yes, Barca have become more deman

De Jong denies the reports that there are any written agreements over the amount of the playing time he will be getting at Barca.'I have to do my best and we will see.'At the moment his mind is on the Nations League and upcoming vacations. Frenkie de Jong is already in Barcelonaas he prepares to join the club this summer after this January €75million switch from Ajax. And the midfielder has laughed off the rumours that he was guaranteed the playing time in Barcelona. "Of course there are no agreements in my contract with Barcelona about playing time. There are no things like that," Frenkie said in the interview with Voetbal Inside. "I have to do my best and we will see. I look forward to it, but first Nations League and then vacation." The 22-year-old has also confirmed that he already has found himself a house in Barcelona: Think think Neymar and behind him coutinhio, Messi begins him Griesman, and Jovic behind him De Jong, crazy right? De Jong with

After Valencia clash Messi, Suarez and Pique discussed the season in detail.Their improvised meeting took place on the way back to Seville airport.The trio decided that the squad needs some tweaks It looks like the defeat against Valenciawas the last straw that set off some motions inside the club with both players and the board trying to solve the sudden crisis.  While president Bartomeu has reportedly organized the emergency board meeting, three senior Barca players - Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique alongside Pepe Costa, manager of player services - had a meeting of their own to discuss the difficult situation the Catalans find themselves in.  The trio got together on the bus on the road to the Seville airport after the lost Copa del Rey final to analyze the consequences of the defeats against Valencia and Liverpool and review the season. They came to the conclusion that the team needs several tweaksEven when the bus had arrived at the airport, Messi, Pique and Suarez sta

Josep Maria Bartomeu : "Valverde has a contract. Today's defeat is not his fault." Bartomeu: "It was not a remarkable season, but it is not a failure either. We have only lost 2 games this season." Bartomeu: "It was not meant to be today. I congratulate Valencia. They deserved it." Bartomeu: "Valverde has a contract until the end of next season and he is not the culprit of today's defeat. Players played well, We had possession and finished but Valencia scored more goals. Second half we did well, but it's football.."

The Argentine star wins the prize for the third consecutive season thanks to his 36 goals in the league, 3 ahead of second placed Kylian Mbappé The Argentine has done it again.  Lionel Messi has won the European Golden Shoe for the sixth time  after ending the league campaign with 36 goals to his name, 3 more than second placed Kylian Mbappé who played his final league game for PSG on Friday. The Barça number 10 now has six Golden Shoes in his personal trophy cabinet, two ahead of his nearest rival,  Cristiano Ronaldo . Then come a whole host of famous names who have claimed the award on two separate occasion;  Eusébio ,  Gerd Müller ,  Dudu Georgescu , Fernando Gomes ,  Ally McCoist ,  Mário Jardel , former Barça player  Thierry Henry ,  Diego Forlán  and his great friend and team mate  Luis Suárez . The Argentine has claimed the award for the third time in a row, another unique achievement since the prize was recreated back in 1968.

The FC Barcelone Anthem The FC Barcelona Anthem: "El Cant del Barça" By tradition at the  Camp Nou , the club anthem, called  ‘El Cant del Barça'  is played on the stadium loudspeaker system, and all the fans sing along in unison The song was written in 1974 as part of Barcelona's 75th Anniversary Celebrations. The lyrics are by Jaume Picas and Josep M. Espinàs and it is set to the music of Manuel Valls Gorina On November 27, 1974, and as part of the Club's 75th Anniversary celebrations, 'Cant del Barça', was solemnly sung for the first time by 3,500 voices conducted by Oriol Martorell. At the arrival of Laporta in 2003, the "Catalan Kennedy" demands that the words parade on the screens of the stadium so that all Blaugrana fans can sing the hymn. This giant karaoke was set up for the first time in a league match against Chelsea. The hymn reminds us of the open and integrating character of the club: "No matter wher

Barcelona have announced that head coach Ernesto Valverde will leave the club at the end of the 2018-19 season. The Spanish boss' future has been in question since being dumped out of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool, with the  LaLiga champions having been firmly among the favourites to lift the trophy. Having failed to do so, the Catalan giants and the 55-year-old are set to part ways in the summer. A statement on the club's website reads: "Ernesto Valverde will not sit on the Barcelona bench in the 2019-2020 season." No statements have been made by either party as to where Valverde- who has won two la liga titles, one Cop del rey looking foward for another one as they are in the final and a Spanish Super cup titles during his time at Barcelona- will end up next season.

Would you like to win a Barça shirt? Travel back to the last four Copa del Rey finals to discover the code that opens the trophy cabinet for a fifth. When you have done it, you can have the chance to win a special prize! On 25 May the Benito Villamarín stadium in Seville will host the 2019 Copa del Rey final. To help with the wait before Saturday’s game we have a challenge for you. ALSO, as a final incentive, if you get to the final screen you can enter a draw to win an official Barça shirt. What are you waiting for? *If you have problems navigating or 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE -  TWO MOMENTS OF BRILLIANCE FROM THE ARGENTINE Messi should be awarded the Ballon d'Or tomorrow Lionel Messi celebrates his second goal against Liverpool. Barcelona  are one step away from the  Champions League  final after  beating  Liverpool  3-0  in the first leg of the semi-final at the  Camp Nou . There were times where the Catalans suffered, but  Marc-Andre ter Stegen was key in preventing  Liverpool  from scoring an all-important away goal. As such,  Barcelona  were able to take advantage - with two moments of  Messi  brilliance - and they can now start to think about the final at the  Wanda Metropolitano , though they must be careful in the second leg at  Anfield  next week. Messi  appeared when the  Camp Nou needed him most, forcing the ball over the line for his first and his side's second before scoring a beautiful free-kick to make it 3-0. The  Barcelona  captain worked tremendously hard, and even went out of his way to ensure that  Philipp

- Lionel Messi scored a brilliant brace to inspire Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League - The vital win saw the La Liga Champions inch closer to sealing a place in the finals of the European tournament - Messi has however criticized Barcelona fans for their treatment on Philippe Coutinho Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has expressed his displeasure with the club's fans over their treatment of Philippe Coutinho during Champions League win over Liverpool at the Camp Nou. Messi scored a brace during the first leg of the semi final tie, including a sensational free-kick late in the second half to gift his side a crucial win over the Premier League club. Liverpool dominated proceedings in the opening exchanges of the clash played at Camp Nou, forcing the hosts to rethink their system and formation. Coutinho had been deployed alongside Messi and Suarez to lead the attack-line, but the Brazilian was unimpressive, leading to his substitution on the hour mark.

Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger has revealed why Liverpool lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Barcelona on Wednesday. Wenger said Jurgen Klopp’s men collapsed in the final 15 minutes of their 3-0 defeat. Liverpool will need a miracle at Anfield next week after a Lionel Messi’s second half brace and a Luis Suarez opener saw Barca take control of the semi-final tie. The Reds fought hard and wasted opportunities before Messi scored the first of his two goals in the 75th minute of the match. The Argentine forward produced a stunning free-kick eight minutes later to beat Alisson and ensure Barcelona have one foot in the Champions League final. Wenger told beIN Sports, “It was hard for Liverpool tonight. “But, I must say, Barcelona suffered in the second half until they scored the second goal, then Liverpool collapsed. “There was two important things that happened tonight. First, when they suffered Ernesto Valverde made a good change. “He bro

The Argentine showed once again why he is the greatest of all time by scoring twice in a thrilling 3-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League Jurgen Klopp said Camp Nou was no temple, but Liverpool’s coach watched nearly 100,000 devout followers bow before their god as Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-0 win on Wednesday, leaving the Catalans with one foot in the Champions Leaguefinal. The best player on the planet, in the history of football, casually decided a match which had been balanced on a knife-edge, notching two goals to whisk the semi-final first leg out of the bold visitors' hands. Luis Suarez’s opening goal saw Barcelona strike the first blow but the Catalans at times were praying for salvation as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane drove the hosts back. And Messi delivered it, again, the Argentine popping up in the right place at the right time to stroke home the second, before dispatching a stunning free-kick into the one per cent of the goal Alisson could not

The former Croatia coach is the latest to praise the Barcelona superstar after his display against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals Article continues below Bayern Munich  boss Niko Kovac says he always voted for Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or when he was Croatia head coach. Messi produced another sparkling performance on Wednesday, scoring twice to give Barcelona a 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Liverpool at Camp Nou and reach 600 club goals in the process. His form in 2018-19 has made a mockery of his ranking in last year's race for the Ballon d'Or, when he came in fifth placebehind Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Cristiano Ronaldo and winner Luka Modric. Editors' Picks Lethal Lacazette! Arsenal's Champions League level attack leading Gunners back to the promised landFerdinand is no quick-fix - Why Man Utd need more than just Rio to bring back glory daysHas hapless Higuain blown his last chance of staying at Chelsea?Cam

Capello: 'Barcelona signed Messi because of me' Former Italian national team and Juventus manager Fabio Capello has said that he had a vital role in helping Barcelona sign Lionel Messi. The Argentine once again wrecked havoc in the Champions League yesterday and Liverpool fell victims this time, as Messi scored a brace with one of them being delightful free-kick. It was also his 600th goal for Barcelona. But Fabio Capello has revealed how he had a big role in helping Barcelona sign the Argentine magician back when Frank Rijkaard was the Catalan boss. Capello: 'For me, Messi is a genius; the rest are just great' Capello told in  the Sky Sports studios : "In those days President Laporta told me:"Messi is here thanks to you ". We played a match against Juventus against Barcelona in the Gamper trophy, Messi was 16 and after 20 minutes I told Rijkaard: "With you he does not play, he is the fourth foreigner: give him to me, I keep him for a year an

Lionel Messi  is regularly the cause of the euphoria felt by  Barcelona 's supporters. The Argentine, besides his undoubted quality, has become the leader of the group, as shown by his defence of teammate  Philippe Coutinho . The maturity of arguably the greatest player of all time is complete in every sense. Barcelona  are enjoying their star player at his peak ability in what could be another historic campaign for the  Blaugrana . After all, winning another treble is what every  Barcelona  fan dreams of. At the  Camp Nou  on Wednesday night,  Messi  scored another brace, in the space of seven minutes, as he took his tally to 600 goals for the club. A 3-0 victory, led by their talisman, has put  Barcelona  one step closer to the  Champions League  final at the  Wanda Metropolitano  on June 1. After the win,  Messi  spoke cautiously but didn't hide his joy. "It's a good result, it's a shame that we didn't win 4-0 but we're happy with how we played,&q

One of Barcelona’s most highly regarded players has asked the club to sell him off during the summer after being agitated at Lionel Messi’s preferences. Barcelona got the better of Liverpool by a 3-0 margin in their first leg UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening. The Catalans were not at their best despite grabbing a first-half lead via Luis Suarez, however, it seems that Lionel Messi makes the difference nearly every time and he chipped in with two goals late on in the second part. Ernesto Valverde’s team selection did not publish before undergoing the eyes of the captain Lionel Messi, who has a massive say in nearly every matter at Barcelona. The duo agreed upon a very strong starting line-up being deployed and interestingly, Barcelona’s Valverde sanctioned a 4-4-2 formation instead of the usual 4-3-3. Philippe Coutinho was picked up ahead of Ousmane Dembele in the starting eleven and the France international only came on as a substitute in the stoppage time of the second ha