Messi brace gives Barca therapeutic 5-0 final day win

Reuters Videos
Updated

SHOWS: VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN (JULY 19, 2020) (LA LIGA / MEDIAPRO - NO RESALES)

1. BARCELONA COACH, QUIQUE SETIEN ARRIVING FOR POST-MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, QUIQUE SETIEN, ON HIS FUTURE, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):

"I've always been calm. It's not my future that I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is the future of the team and of the club. I'm only an extra piece in this big club and I will carry on doing my job whilst I have it and I will do what needs to be done. I will keep working hard. We need to improve and we need to achieve the goals that we want to set ourselves. I have to sometimes convince the players that there are things that we have to do, but some things are out of my control."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, QUIQUE SETIEN, ON IF HE FEELS HE HAS THE BACKING OF THE CLUB AND PLAYERS, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):

"I always feel backed by the club and by the team and if that wasn't the case then we probably would have to take another decision, but I'm very happy."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, QUIQUE SETIEN, ON HOW HIS TEAM HAS REFLECTED ON RECENT LOSSES, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):

"Well it's true that we analyze these things deeply together and we're all very excited with the Champions League coming up. But, of course we have talked as a group and it's helped us because we've cleared the air on somethings that we had to change and it helps us the fact that we managed to get this good result today. It's going to help us face the future with a much better attitude and more enthusiasm. Today was a very special performance. Not only the three points, it's the way and the feeling that we showed on the pitch and that's what really helped us. It helped our confidence, because we were doing things well already, but we weren't having the luck that we needed as well. In the first half hour we had that (luck) today. I've seen that in previous games, where we haven't managed to be as accurate as we were today in front of goal. We could have honestly scored more goals today. I think we hit the post a couple of times as well."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, QUIQUE SETIEN, ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LIONEL MESSI, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION):

"The relationship we have is similar to what I have with all my other players in general. There are players who are a bit more open and you have better communication with or some with a more slight relationship with, if you will. But our relationship is good. It's the relationship of a manager with a player."

STORY: Barcelona ended their disappointing La Liga campaign on a high as Lionel Messi scored twice in a resounding 5-0 win at Alaves on Sunday (July 19), easing the pain of last week's shock defeat at home to Osasuna.

Teenage forward Ansu Fati put Barca in front midway through the first half after the visitors had hit the woodwork three times, while Messi and strike partner Luis Suarez further stretched their lead before halftime.

Defender Nelson Semedo scored a fourth early in the second half before Messi struck again, scoring his 25th league goal of the season which is almost certain to land him the top scorer's award for a record seventh time.

Barca finished the season second in the standings on 82 points, four behind champions Real Madrid who visit Leganes later on Sunday. Alaves are 16th on 39.