Key question – was it the the diminutive captain\u2019s last Barca game at the Camp Nou?<\/p>\n
Stumped Blaugrana boss Ronald Koeman spoke about the future of their skipper Lionel Messi after Sunday\u2019s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Celta Vigo in La Liga.<\/p>\n
Messi was yet again his brilliant self and scored his 30th league goal of the season to open the scoring but it still wasn\u2019t enough as he looked like a one-man team while the obdurate visitors ran out victors thanks to a Santi Mina brace.<\/p>\n
Koeman was asked after the match if it was Messi\u2019s last game at the Camp Nou and the visibly flustered coach was only too eager to prostrate himself before the Messi altar in desperation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope not because I think [against Celta] he\u2019s shown his effectiveness and that he\u2019s still the best in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt [would be] impossible to play without him. But it\u2019s Leo on his own and, to win more games and get more points, we need more players to score goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeo\u2019s scored 30 goals and won us a lot of points. But [his future] is a question for him. For me and for the club, we hope he stays. Because if there\u2019s no Leo, we have doubts about who will score the goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messi had said previously he would wait until the end of the season to make a decision and the sand in the hourglass is fast running out. Barca play their final fixture on Sunday away against a relegated Eibar in what could be the captain\u2019s last game if he does not renew as the LaLiga is already a spectre gone with the night.<\/p>\n
There had been bibrant optimism \u2013 with chests puffed up, especially Koeman\u2019s – after the Copa del Rey win that Messi would stay on but the Blaugrana\u2019s disappointing end to the season could well have a dire impact on the captain\u2019s thinking that is much more drastic than losing the Spanish and Champions Leagues.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, the developments that would soon unfold would definitely impact Koeman\u2019s future one way or another as the pressure continues to pile up on Dutchman.<\/p>\n
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