Lionel Messi once confessed that Barcelona players harbored more hatred towards a Premier League club than their arch-rivals Real Madrid – a revelation he never anticipated making.
At just 18 years old, the Argentine made this revelation public.
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During that time, tensions ran high between Barcelona and Chelsea following their intense Champions League last-16 encounter in 2005, where Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback at Stamford Bridge.
A week prior to the clash, Jose Mourinho had made pointed remarks about referee Anders Frisk following Didier Drogba’s controversial sending off in the first leg.
The two-legged tie left a sour taste in the mouths of Barcelona players. In fact, leading up to their last-16 meeting in 2006, a youthful Messi openly expressed his feelings towards Chelsea in an interview with the News of the World.
“There are [Barcelona] players here who hate Chelsea more than Real Madrid,” he said.
“I never thought I would hear myself say that. I also never thought I would see something worse than the Boca and River Plate rivalry or Brazil vs Argentina – but this is.
“We would rather play Arsenal, Manchester United or anyone else than be on the pitch with Chelsea.”
Despite being brutally fouled by Chelsea defender Asier Del Horno, resulting in a red card for the Spaniard, Messi delivered yet another extraordinary performance for Barcelona.
A John Terry own goal and a late goal by Samuel Eto’o secured a first-leg advantage before Barcelona eliminated Jose Mourinho’s team with a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.
That season, Barcelona claimed the Champions League title after Juliano Belletti netted a late winner against Arsenal at the Stade de France.
Reflecting on his time at Barcelona, Messi highlighted the 2012 Champions League defeat to Chelsea as one of his greatest regrets in the club’s jersey.
“I would have liked to have tried to win another Champions League,” he said in 2021, when he announced his decision to leave his boyhood club.
“We got knocked out in the semi-finals by Liverpool which stopped us getting to another final. We got to the semi-final with Chelsea with Pep [Guardiola], they prevented us from getting to another final.
“And I think there could have been another time where we could have won another Champions League.”
