Lionel Messi anger led him not to celebrate Barcelona winner - Bauza

Posted Wednesday, February 22, 2017 by ESPN

Lionel Messi anger led him not to celebrate Barcelona winner - Bauza
Lionel Messi scored twice against Leganes but did not celebrate his second goal.

Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza has said he believes Lionel Messi did not celebrate his late winner against Leganes because he was angry with the fallout from Barcelona's Champions League thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca coach Luis Enrique took the brunt of the criticism following the 4-0 defeat last Tuesday, but Messi was one of a number of players criticised for his performance.

Messi responded with two goals in a laboured 2-1 win against relegation-threatened Leganes at the Camp Nou but did not celebrate his 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot.

"I think he reacted to the criticism he may have received after PSG," Bauza told radio show "Joga Bonito."

"I noticed he was very angry when he scored the goals."

Asked why Messi had not celebrated, Luis Enrique told his postmatch news conference: "I didn't see whether he celebrated or not. And I'm not the person who has to answer that."

Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo said the reaction of the fans at the weekend, rather than criticism for the Paris defeat, was the reason.

Luis Enrique and Andre Gomes were among those whistled amid a tense atmosphere.

Messi is in the final 18 months of his contract and his father, Jorge, is currently in Barcelona where he is reported to be negotiating a new deal with president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Bartomeu has told supporters he is confident that an agreement can be reached.