Former Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has branded Lionel Messi a "diving c**t" on a recent podcast.

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• Former Liverpool coach Achterberg shared his thoughts on Messi
• Slammed him for diving in 2019 UCL match
• Delighted with one particular Andy Robertson tackle

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Having left Liverpool for Al Ettifaq, goalkeeper coach Achterberg has lifted the lid on his experience of the Reds' game against Barcelona in their run to Champions League glory in 2019. The 53-year-old did not hesitate to admit he would take the World Cup winner in a team over Cristiano Ronaldo, but that did not stop him from voicing a strong opinion on his antics during that famous European tie and the delight he felt when full-back Andy Robertson put in a particularly strong challenge on his opponent.

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  WHAT ACHTERBERG SAID

  Speaking on The Football Historian Podcast, he said: "When we played him I thought he was a diving c***. I liked it when we played him and Robbo smashed him so I thought: 'F***ing do him, c***!'"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Achterberg may have been frustrated by the ex-Barcelona star back in 2019, but he got to witness first-hand the magic of Messi. The magician scored twice in the first leg but suffered heartbreak at Anfield as Liverpool came from behind to win 4-0 and progress to the final.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ACHTERBERG AND MESSI?

  Five years later both Messi and Achterberg are still thriving on and off the pitch. The former remains a key part of Inter Miami's set-up in Major League Soccer, while the latter is working alongside Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia as Al Ettifaq prepare for the new season.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News