We are the ones to blame, Messi backs Ernesto Valverde for Champions League exit

After Champions League semi-final defeat in the hands of Liverpool, Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde was subjected to immense criticism. However, Barcelona bigwig Lionel Messi has come in full support of his coach saying that the players are the ones to be blamed.

"I think the coach has done an impressive job. I think in that elimination against Liverpool, he is practically blameless. We are the only ones to blame for that match," Goal.com quoted Messi as saying.

Barcelona clinched a 3-0 victory in the first-leg of semi-finals but in the second-leg, Liverpool came out strikingly and registered a 4-0 victory to secure their spot in the final.

In the Champions League 2017-18, Barcelona faced a quarterfinal exit after they were beaten by Roma. Therefore, this is the second consecutive time when Barcelona missed to reach in the Champions League final.

"It was unfortunate the match we played, the image we left behind. That happened two years in a row, that we missed out on the Champions League final. The truth is what happened cannot be allowed. We were playing a final. He will be as guilty as everyone else in the locker room but the ones who [are most guilty] are us," he said.

Messi even went on to say that he wants Valverde to continue as Barcelona coach.

"I would like [Valverde] to continue," Messi said. "You may like it or not, but as we play this year we can win another double. But this is a very big spot. In these two years, two games were lost. It is true that they tainted us but beyond that, the rest was good," he said.

Despite Champions League elimination, Barcelona managed to vanquish Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, claiming their spot in the final, where they will now face Valencia. Talking about the Copa del Rey final Messi said that if they face a defeat there, it will be 'much worse'.

"Not winning this final would be much worse than we are now, we have to finish well and think about that," he said.

Barcelona will face Valencia for Copa del Rey final on May 26.