Quique Setien admitted after Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Real Valladolid that Lionel Messi needs a rest but said he didn’t take him off on Saturday because the “score was too tight.”
Messi has played every minute for Barcelona since La Liga resumed in June and notched his 20th assist of the season against Valladolid by teeing up Arturo Vidal
Setien was asked whether the captain needs a rest after the match and offered the following response.
“Of course. I’ve said it before, but the score was too tight. If we’d have scored more goals in the first half, maybe more players would’ve been rested,” he said.