Messi provides PK surprise

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona will speak at a press conference on Friday for the first time in four years. It is expected that the captain and Gerard Pique will join forces to back up coach Ernesto Valverde, who was criticised after the Champions League outbreak, before the Copa del Rey final.

For the last time Messi spoke in April 2015 before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against FC Bayern Munich. In Barcelona, the appearance of the otherwise rather silent captain is seen as a sign of the club’s crisis communication.

After a 4-0 defeat in the Champions League against Liverpool FC and the associated out in the semi-finals of the premier league, coach Valverde was heavily criticised. Even the end after two years at Barca was discussed.

After President Josep Maria Bartomeu Valverde expressed confidence, Catalan media now expect Messi to follow suit. The debate over the coach was heated in Spain, but the team is said to have positioned itself clearly in favour of Valverde.

In addition, many fans and media representatives criticized that the Barca stars after the defeat in England largely fell into silence and made no statements.

In addition to Messi, Pique and Valverde will also be on the podium from 5 pm. It is the last big press conference of the year shortly before the final of the Copa del Rey (Saturday, 8pm live on DAZN) against FC Valencia.