After a video without context appeared to thrash Leo Messi, Ronald Koeman had to come out and defend the Argentine from critics.
There’s a damning video in which Messi appears to walk during FC Barcelona’s last match, one that Ronald Koeman had to come out to defend. In the piece of footage that doesn’t last more than a few seconds, we can see the captain refusing to apply pressure during a Dynamo Kyiv chance. But this video was doctored and taken completely out of context.
If you find the longer version, you can see Messi defending fiercely right after that moment. This is nothing more than another feeble attempt to criticize Messi but Koeman is not falling for it. The Dutch manager came out to defend his player from the ones who are coming after him when this video showed up online.
He doesn’t like how the media is twisting information and completely backed his player as one of the most dangerous forwards in the world. If you look at one of Leo Messi’s performances from the old days, you can see him walking as well.
This is how Leo always played.
In order to understand why Messi walks often on the pitch is very simple. He simply looks for the ideal time to accelerate and hurt the opponent with a pass or search for a goal. Koeman understands this better than anybody else.
Talking to Sport, the gaffer said: “Leo is a great player and we want him on a part of the pitch where he can hurt the opponent. He is very important on the attack and he always played different positions on the pitch. We’ve used him as a false ‘9’ or a winger. I believe in what he can do and he always creates problems for the defenders.
“We see him motivated and strong right now, he is always enjoying this sport. He is proving his worth all the time and he can go through difficult times as any player does. Leo tends to suffer the most when we don’t score goals, but he always remains involved in the process.
“Anybody can be filmed walking on the pitch and I’m not interested in this. I certainly didn’t see him walking. If you want to create controversy, that’s your problem. I don’t agree with that.”
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