Antonio Conte Calls Messi "The Best Player" And Cries Foul After The CL Loss Against FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona is the final team to make it to the Champions League Top 8 after the 3-0 victory over Chelsea. Messi and Dembele score while players of Chelsea tasted defeat.

The aggregate of the two leg played between Barca and the EPL Blues is 4-1. The second leg was initially dominated by the Chelsea side but Messi gave Barcelona the lead by scoring at 3 minutes into the game.

Chelsea tried to score an equalizer but did not see any fruit as openings were made but not utilized. At 20th minute, Messi went on to assist Dembele for the second goal of the night for the Blaugrana. Willian kept on punching the Barca defense but couldn't break through.

Marcos Alonso hit the free kick to the post missing out on a big opening. When Gerard Pique brought down Olivier Giroud in the second half, Chelsea saw a ray of hope but the challenge was denied.

The Blues saw 11 chances as compared to Barca with 6. But Messi swept the game off the English club when he scored the third goal at 63rd minute. Chelsea went out fighting and their manager had nothing but praises for their rivals.

"We are talking about the best player in the world," said Conte. "He scores 60 goals every season- he is super top player. Barcelona were very clinical."

Conte also appreciated the efforts of his own players stating, "I think we created many chances but we didn't take them.

"We didn't deserve to lose 3-0," said Conte. "We were a bit unlucky.

"I must be very proud about my players- they gave everything and we have to continue in this way, with this will to fight and desire to fight together."

FC Barcelona are now into Champions League quarter-finals along with Bayern Munich, Sevilla, Manchester City, Liverpool, AS Roma, Real Madrid and Juventus. The quarter-finals draw is highly anticipated by the fans across the football universe.

Will FC Barcelona loose Messi?

FC Barcelona had been in news in 2014 for all good reasons like signing of Luis Surez and being the top in La Liga alongside Real Madrid, but it seem the glory streak didn't follow in 2015. With reports of Lionel Messi planning to leave the club and Enrique under fire for varied reasons, Barça fans are confused and heartbroken.
The opening of transfer window in January saw a shift in loyalty, players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are in the list of players who swapped there jerseys from Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC accordingly. Will Messi join them? He has been playing for Barça for past 14 years, the very idea of seeing him play for another club hurts!

Lionel Messi after match against Elche

The news of Messi wanting to leave first arose after he started following Chelsea FC on Instagram and that Cesc Fabregas was talking to the four time Ballon d'Or winner for a move. But this news was scraped after Chelsea refused to shell out £500 million, which is the price tag put on by Barça.
One of the major reason why Messi wants to leave Barça is none other than Luis Enrique, the current coach of the team. Reports of heat between Messi and coach started after Enrique benched him for the first match of 2015 against Real Sociedad, which FC Barcelona lost. The dispute continued to training sessions, at a point it reached to a level that Neymar Jr had to intervene.

Now it seems that coach Enrique is under fire by the club authorities after two loses and the whole Messi row. Rumors have it that Braça is already looking for replacement and Messi has recommended ex-coach Dutchman Frank Rijkaard.
From one point of view it seems as  though Luis Enrique is slaughtered to keep Messi, after all who would wanna lose the present Ballon d'Or contender. On the other it seems that Enriques schemes are not working after two consecutive loses against big leagues.
It will be worth watching whether Barça fans will have to bid adieu to just Luis Enrique or bare double loss and say goodbye to Messi as well.

FC Barcelona coach Luis Enrique

"As far as I know, these problems all started about two years ago. Messi is only still at Barcelona because he promised it to Tito Vilanova at his deathbed."

-Ten Cate told De Telegraaf.