Ronaldo believes that Lionel Messi must share some of the blame for Barcelona’s humiliating Champions League exit to Liverpool.
Messi was left powerless as Barcelona crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Tuesday night, surrendering their three-goal advantage from the first leg.
It means that Liverpool will take on Tottenham Hotspur in an all-English final at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on June 1.
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“It is unfair to point the culprits to a defeat,” Ronaldo said at a Santander event. “I see that Barcelona has a great team and has the best player in the world, which is Messi.
“The other day I read that other players lost and Barca wins [because of] Messi. It is a tremendous injustice to all the players and the coaching staff.
“Barcelona is a great team with great players and very good coaches. You should be a little more careful with criticism.”
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While keen to comment on Barcelona, former Real Madrid and Inter star Ronaldo was at pains to praise the ’emotional intelligence’ of Liverpool’s stunning performance.
“[Liverpool] had more motivation, intensity and desire,’ added the former Brazilian forward. ‘In the first part, Barcelona had chances to score a goal that would have changed everything.
“But Liverpool deserved it. They have shown strength and emotional intelligence.
“In the fourth goal there was a mistake, but I think that if it had not [been scored], it would have arrived in a different way. They played the game of their lives.
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“It’s a shame for Barcelona, because they played a great game in the first leg, we all enjoyed Messi.
“It’s a pity that there is not a Spaniard in the final, but Liverpool deserved it more.”