Coutinho: It’s Inexplicable Messi Has Only Won 1 of Past 5 CLs

The Brazilian spoke as Barcelona are about to start their CL campaign.

Philippe Coutinho has said there’s no explanation why Lionel Messi has only won one of the past five UEFA Champions League competitions.

Asked as Barcelona are set to face PSV Eindhoven why Messi hasn’t won the competition that much in the past five years, Coutinho could only say, “it’s difficult, he is the best player in the world, the best in history. And it’s difficult to explain that, there is no explanation.”

“He, like all of us, has a strong desire to win big things and the Champions is one of them,” Coutinho continued. “[Excitement] is always very high for all of the teams that participate, due to the greatness of the tournament, because it’s been a while since Barça have won it. Surely this year, the players, the club, and the fans have great things to win.”

Coutinho is at his second season at Barcelona but it’s the first time he will compete in the Champions League alongside Messi. Last year, Coutinho could not play in the competition as he had already played it that season with his previous club, Liverpool, and was cup-tied to them. Because it’s a new season, and doubly so because the rule has been removed, Coutinho will finally play alongside Messi as Barcelona attempt to win their first title since Luis Enrique’s team did so in 2015.

Source: barcablaugranes.com