BARCELONA (AP) ― Lionel Messi did everything he could to put end to Barcelona’s most serious club crisis in years on Sunday, first scoring one goal and setting up two more in a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid before denying a swarm of rumors swirling around the star forward.
Stifled by Atletico in six winless meetings last season, Messi first shredded the defending champion’s vaunted defense with run after run, passing for Neymar to score in the 12th minute and for Luis Suarez to double the lead at Camp Nou in the 35th.
He then made up for committing a penalty that led to Mario Mandzukic scoring from the spot in the 57th by scoring three minutes from time for his 25th goal in as many games this season.
And after giving Barcelona control of second place at one point behind Real Madrid, Messi gave a rare interview where he put to bed an entire set of rumors following a tumultuous week for the Catalan club that included the firing of its sports director and its president calling for early elections this summer.
Messi denied media reports that he had asked for coach Luis Enrique to be fired and that his father, who acts as his agent, had spoken to Premier League clubs Chelsea and Manchester City about a possible transfer.
“I wanted to give my version after hearing so many things,” Messi told Barcelona’s club television. “I have never asked that they replace a coach, and I never would. This hurts. And it comes from people who want to hurt the club.”
Southampton stuns Man U
MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― Southampton ended Manchester United’s 10-match unbeaten run in the Premier League on Sunday with a 1-0 victory that dislodged Louis van Gaal’s side from third place.
Dusan Tadic clinched Southampton’s first win at Old Trafford in 27 years in the 69th minute to strengthen the south-coast team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.
“Overall we had the better chances, played the better football and deserved to win but we have been punished for not taking our chances,” United captain Wayne Rooney said.
But five minutes after coming off the bench, Tadic set up Graziano Pelle for a shot that hit the post. Tadic was then alert enough to send the rebound into the net.
