Messi praised after Champions League hat-trick against PSV Eindhoven
Tuesday 18 September 2018 23:03, UK
Ernesto Valverde hailed the performance of Lionel Messi after his hat-trick helped Barcelona to a 4-0 win against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Messi scored a sublime free-kick in the first half before two clinical finishes towards the end of the game secured Barca a comfortable opening win in Group B.
It was Messi's eighth Champions League hat-trick - a new record - and Valverde says that despite the feat, it is all in a day's work for his captain.
Messi hits treble as Barca thump PSV
"Messi does extraordinary things and makes them look routine," the Barcelona manager said. "When he stops playing it will be difficult to find someone like him. It's a relief to have him on your team and a nightmare to have him against you.
"Today he scored three goals but his first strike opened the game up. It was a magisterial free-kick.
"We have to pinch ourselves to remind us that we are living through a unique era."
Ousmane Dembele also scored a wonderful goal during the victory at the Nou Camp, although the result was dampened by a sending off for Samuel Umtiti for a second yellow card after his heavy body-check on Hirving Lozano.
And while goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen also lauded Messi, he did acknowledge the remainder of the Barcelona team.
He said: "Messi always delivers. There's no player that does that quite like him. He's always ready and he's always decisive. But we have 10 other players who also contributed to the victory."
PSV manager Mark Van Bommel thought his side were hard done by in conceding the free-kick from which Messi opened the scoring, but he also paid tribute to the five-times world player of the year.
"I don't think it was a foul but Messi put it in the net," he said. "For me he's the best player in the world and it's strange to me he doesn't win the Ballon d'Or every single year. But, overall, I think the scoreline was harsh on us."
