Lionel Messi played down his impact at Barcelona on Monday, saying coach Pep Guardiola is more important to the Catalans. The Argentine three-times World Player of the Year scored twice at the weekend to move to within five goals of the club's all-time top scorer Cesar Rodriguez, who netted 235.
That followed his five-goal masterclass against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last week, yet Messi lays the credit for his and the club's recent success at the feet of Guardiola. "Pep is more important to Barcelona than me," Messi told reporters. "Since he arrived he has changed everything for us. He has won everything there is to win." Guardiola, who has preferred to renew his contract on a year-by-year basis since arriving at the post in 2008, has yet to commit himself beyond the end of the season.