Robertson: Why I Regret Taunting Messi
09 May, 2020
After clashing with FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi last season, Liverpool star Andrew Robertson has revealed why he wishes he previously not taunted the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.
The 26-year-old caused quite a stir in the next leg of the Reds' 2018/19 Champions League semi-final, when he pushed Messi in the rear of the head as the Argentine sat on to the floor following a challenge from Fabinho.
Having previously admitted to regretting his behaviour, Robertson has once more explained that he wishes he previously not disrespected the player he believes is the foremost footballer ever.
"I sometimes play as a fan and not as a professional footballer, which is maybe my downfall sometimes," the left-back said on That Peter Crouch Podcast.
"Me and Fabinho were tracking Messi back and both of us ended up on the ground, and I simply ruffled his hair a bit. He wasn't too happy and it's something I wouldn't do again, that's for sure!
"It's disrespectful to the best player who's ever played the overall game.
That match, I've never seen a changing room so pumped up. I don't really know what came over me. I really do regret it but it's something everyone always mentions to me.
"I wasn't thinking! In the Nou Camp, in the first leg, I thought I dealt with him and also I possibly could have but he still walked off with two goals in a 3-0 win and all many people are talking about is Messi.
"He's the very best player ever to play the game, in my opinion. There is an instant when he knocked it by two of our midfielders in the first few minutes at the Nou Camp and he was running directly at me and I was thinking, 'Oh right, this guy's serious'. He's coming at me now.'
"The stuff he does with his feet is just frightening. You can't see, you need to guess at times to guard against him."
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za
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