Barcelona snatched UEFA Super Cup because of Messi — Sevilla coach

Barcelona FC edged Sevilla FC in the game for the 2015 UEFA Super Cup, held on Tuesday night in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, only because of Lionel Messi, Russia’s Dmitry Cheryshev, a member of Sevilla’s coaching staff, said.
Barcelona was down 0-1 at the beginning of the match, but then got ahead 4-1 with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez’s frantic offense. Sevilla pulled itself together and pegged the score back to 4-4 taking the game into the extra time, where they eventually lost 4-5 after Barca’s Pedro scoring the winning goal.

Messi scored the first two goals of the match between two top Spanish clubs and was named the best player of the game.

“This is sad,” Cheryshev said after the game. “Barcelona won only due to individual play of Messi. It is very difficult to play against such high-ranking player. One can only bow to him, since he is driving his team ahead not only in the championship, but on the global scale as well.”

“Judging the match from the team-play point of view, I liked our [Sevilla’s] play more than Barcelona’s,” Cheryshev, whose match with Sevilla on Tuesday in the capacity of the club’s coach was the inaugural one, told journalists.
“Today we have showed a good game, dedication and the desire,” he said. “I believe we have good potential to offer strong competition to Barcelona at the domestic championship.”
Barcelona’s 28-year-old striker was modest after the match commenting on his play, which brought Barcelona its fifth Super Cup trophy, and thanked the audience in Tbilisi.

“I’ve just been lucky enough to score those [two early free-kicks] and I’m very happy the team won and very grateful to everyone for their support and such a warm welcome,” UEFA official website quoted Messi as saying after the game.

“We seemed to be the home team [with the support in the crowd]! It was like we were the hosts and we’re very pleased to have won,” Barcelona captain Messi said. “Winning today was significant because of what the Super Cup represents in terms of starting the season on the right foot, so we’re delighted. All trophies are great.”

According to official statistics, provided by UEFA, Messi’s two goals took him level with Cristiano Ronaldo on 80 in all UEFA club competitions. Messi also increased his career UEFA Super Cup goal tally to a record three, equal with Arie Haan, Francois Van der Elst, Gerd Muller, Oleh Blokhin, Radamel Falcao, Rob Rensenbrink and Terry McDermott.