Sport
“Never Settle for Second Place” – Messi Tells Barcelona Players
Former Barcelona captain Lionel Messi has sent a strong message to the current Barcelona squad, urging them never to settle for second place in the ongoing La Liga title race.
Messi, who spent over two decades at the club, emphasized the importance of fighting for the top spot, particularly for a club of Barcelona’s stature.
Last season, Barcelona finished second in La Liga, losing out on the title to their fierce rivals, Real Madrid.
Despite their strong performance, they were unable to clinch the championship, and this left a sense of disappointment among the fans and players alike.
This season, however, Barcelona is sitting at the top of the La Liga standings, holding a four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.
Yet, Real Madrid still has a game in hand, meaning the race for the title remains close and intense.
In an interview with Mundodeportivo, Messi, who is now playing for Inter Miami, spoke about what it means to represent Barcelona.
He made it clear that the club’s players must always aim for the top, no matter the circumstances.
“You can never accept to be second if you’re wearing a Barça shirt,” Messi stated.
“This means you’re part of the biggest club in the world.”
Messi went on to stress that, even if the team doesn’t win, they must remain committed to competing until the very last match of the season.
“Even if you don’t win, at least you must compete for the title till the very end,” he said.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca admitted he may have risked his team’s chances of holding on to their 1-0 lead over Tottenham Hotspur after making defensive substitutions late in the game.
Reflecting on the moment, Maresca acknowledged that his decision to make changes before seeing how much stoppage time would be added was a mistake. “We created plenty of chances in the first half, but when I saw 12 minutes of extra time, I realized it might have been too soon to make those changes,” he told reporters.
With the game nearing its end, Maresca swapped Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez for defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and midfield anchor Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which allowed Spurs to intensify their attack in search of an equalizer during the extended stoppage time.
Thankfully for Chelsea, the strategy paid off as they managed to hold on for the win. “We’re happy we won, but it was a close call,” Maresca added.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected two Nigerian referees for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.
Aminu Shamtali Shuaibu and Muhammadu Yakubu are among the 14 referees chosen for the tournament. CAF has also appointed 15 assistant referees, 10 VAR officials, and three assessors.
Last week, CAF confirmed Egypt as the new host after Cote d’Ivoire pulled out. The competition is set to take place from April 27 to May 18.
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will compete in Group B alongside Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Luis Milla has urged the club to sell Vinicius Junior during the summer transfer window and reshape their attack.
Milla believes Madrid should cash in on the Brazilian winger and use the funds to bring in a new striker, allowing Kylian Mbappe to operate from his preferred left-wing position under Carlo Ancelotti.
Vinicius, who joined Madrid from Flamengo in 2018, has been linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. This season, he has delivered impressive numbers, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists in 41 appearances.
Despite his contributions, Milla thinks Madrid should move on. Speaking with El Desmarque, he explained, “If I were the sporting director, I would sell Vinicius and sign a striker, giving Mbappe the left-wing role. Vini is a fantastic player, but the club also needs to consider the image he projects. His value in the market is huge, and Madrid could use that money for big investments.”
-
Sport6 hours agoLuis Milla Wants Real Madrid to Sell Vinicius Junior and Sign a New Striker
-
Entertainment6 hours agoTom Cruise Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Late Co-Star Val Kilmer
-
Sport6 hours agoCAF Selects Two Nigerian Referees for 2025 U-20 AFCON
-
Sport5 hours agoMaresca Admits He Could Have Risked Chelsea’s Victory with Late Substitutions
-
Entertainment5 hours agoOluwadolarz Explains How His Stage Name Led People to Think He’s a Yahoo Boy
-
Fashion20 hours agoFormer Senator Shehu Sani Declines Invitation to Judge Miss World Nigeria Beauty Pageant
-
Entertainment19 hours agoNigerian Actress Lolo1 Blames Government for Nigerians Leaving the Country
-
Sport19 hours agoSebastián Abreu Picks Messi Over Ronaldo, Reveals Reason for His Choice