Eric Abidal’s jibe allows Messi to land a blow

Barcelona, February 5

Lionel Messi has hit back at the Barcelona sporting director Eric Abidal after the Frenchman blamed slackness in the dressing room for the departure of recently-fired coach Ernesto Valverde.

In an interview with Spanish daily Sport Abidal said that under Valverde, who was sacked in mid-January, many players had been unhappy and hadn’t worked hard enough nor communicated properly. Now Argentine ace has fired a salvo across his own ranks just as the club are trying to get him to sign a contract extension.

“Sincerely, I don’t like doing this kind of thing but everyone has to be made responsible for their actions and what they say,” Messi said on Instagram.

“We the players in the dressing room are the first to admit it when we haven’t played well. The directors need to take their responsibilities too. I believe that if you talk about the players (in this way) you should name names instead of worrying everyone and encouraging rumours that are far from certain.” Earlier Tuesday, Abidal had spoken glowingly of Messi and had sounded optimistic of an extended deal. “I’m sure we’ll come to a deal with Leo because he knows we need him. He’s on top form, enjoying his game and breaking records,” said Abidal. “We as a club want to make him even happier.” above all we want to win titles.”

It won’t affect Barca: Setien

Barcelona will not be destabilised by a possible confrontation between talisman Lionel Messi and sporting director Eric Abidal, coach Quique Setien said on Wednesday. Barcelona will not be destabilised by a possible confrontation between talisman Lionel Messi and sporting director Eric Abidal, coach Quique Setien said.

“I will do everything to ensure this does not affect the team, all I’m interested in is tomorrow’s game and the obligation to get through to the next round. I can’t control anything else and won’t waste my energy,” he told reporters. — Agencies

Umtiti faces court hearing before Cup clash

Barcelona: Barcelona player Samuel Umtiti will have to make his own way to the team’s Copa del Rey match at Athletic Bilbao tomorrow as he has a date in court on the same day as the match, his coach Quique Setien has said. A spokeswoman for Catalonia’s judiciary confirmed that France’s World Cup winning defender, 26, faces a civil hearing at 1100 (CET) but declined to give further details on the case. Spanish newspaper El Periodico said Umtiti was being asked to pay ^183,000 in damages to a house he rented in the Baix Llobregat area in Barcelona province. Reuters