Midfielder James Milner of Liverpool FC’s Champions League finalists has given details of his dispute with star striker Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona) in an interview with The Daily Mail. The two had clashed during the semi-final first leg of their teams in the king’s class after a rude entry of Milner.
At Camp Nou, Milner Messi had brought Barcaszu down in the 3-0 win after the ball had already been thrown out. The confrontation that followed continued during the half-time break, Milner said: “He was not happy at all. He was talking to me in Spanish during the break in the players tunnel. He called me ‘Burro’. Translated it means ‘donkey’ and in Spanish football it is probably the name for a player who runs across the pitch and kicks his opponents.”
What Messi probably didn’t know: Milner understands Spanish quite reasonably. “I asked him if he was all right, but he didn’t care,” said the vice captain of the Reds. “I don’t think he realized I understood him. He said, “You only fouled me because I tunneled you. I left him there and went into the cabin.”
The tunnel to which Messi referred happened four years ago. At that time Milner still played with Manchester City and competed with the Skyblues in Camp Nou. Messi left him impressively on the sidelines, and then Bayern coach Pep Guardiola was a thrilled guest in the stands.
Milner said, “So he tunneled me and people looked at it a million times. But I wasn’t the first one this happened to, and I won’t be the last. He’s an incredible player.”
However, Milner does not take the Argentinean’s argument of a few weeks ago off his chest: “I feel nothing but admiration for him. He’s earned to say what he wants to say.”
