Leo Messi returns to Henrik Larsson’s managerial debut

The Barça has started the season

Of: Andreas Käck

Published: September 12, 2020 kl. 22.25

There has been chaos at FC Barcelona.

But when the big club started the new season, Leo Messi was there from the beginning.

– He looked pretty good, says new coach Ronald Koeman.

The start of La Liga has been postponed until next weekend, so, while waiting for it, FC Barcelona took the opportunity to tense their muscles against Gimnastic de Segunda.

It was the first game for the new trio of coaches consisting of Ronald Koeman, Alfred Schreuder and Swedish legend Henrik Larsson.

And it was an easy victory.

But the big headlines were, of course, about Lionel Messi.

The Argentine played from the beginning, as team captain, after the chaos that he and the club went through in recent weeks.

Demanded to leave

On August 25, Messi submitted a formal request to leave the club he had belonged to since he was 13 years old. But after many round trips and crisis encounters between the star’s father and Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the superstar decided to stay.

But the dissatisfaction continues to burn.

– The truth is that there is no project in this club. They only fill in the gaps when things happen. I would never start a war against the club of my life. That’s why I’m staying, Messi said.

Photo: David Ramos / Getty Images Europe

Water 3-1

So now it’s back in the game. However, he did not score in the training match against Gimnastic, which Barça won 3-1. Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho did it in his place.

Subsequently, coach Ronald Koeman was satisfied.

– The most important thing was that we did not suffer any injuries. But there were also many pieces in the game that looked good. The second half was better than the first, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Barça faces Villarreal in the league debut. It will be played on Sunday, September 27 at 5:00 p.m.

Published: September 12, 2020 kl. 22.25

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