Former Barcelona player, Samuel Eto’o has stated that he is the reason behind the successes under former manager Pep Guardiola and not Lionel Messi.
Messi was among the Barcelona squad under Pep Guardiola which had Eto’o in front when they lifted the Champions League trophy twice.
However, many believe the club’s success at that period was because of Messi’s brilliance.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Eto’o said:
“I’ve said to Guardiola ‘you’ll apologise to me because it’ll be me that will make Barcelona win, not Lionel Messi’.
“It was a situation back then.
“Messi would come later but you can ask Xavi, Andres Iniesta and all the others.
“That was my era.
“It was me that made Barca win and Guardiola would ask me for forgiveness.”
The Cameroonian went on to criticise the Manchester City’s boss approach in his time with Barca.
“Pep Guardiola has lived his whole life in Barcelona.
“Messi would come later but you can ask Xavi, Andres Iniesta and all the others. That was my era.
“But in the years I spent there, he didn’t understand the squad.
“He didn’t live the life of our group.”