Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman says Lionel Messi performances “could be better” but the Barcelona captain is “happy”.
Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 33, tried to leave the club this summer and called the transfer saga “a brutal drama”.
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He has scored once so far this season.
“I don’t have any complaints or doubts about his effort,” said Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman, whose side open their Champions League campaign against Ferencvaros on Tuesday (20:00 BST kick-off).
“Right now his performances could be better. On a day-to-day basis, he’s happy and wants to play and be the team’s captain.”
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is in the final year of his contract and will come up against Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo in Group G of this season’s Champions League, a competition they have not won since 2015.
Italian champions Juve will prove tough opposition and Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman played down Barcelona’s chances of helping Messi to another win this year.
“When you’re at Barcelona you always want to be there fighting for trophies, be it in La Liga or Europe,” said the former Netherlands manager.
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“We aren’t the favourites, but we can go far.”
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