Koeman: Messi's Form Could Be Better

Barcelona's new head coach new manager Ronald Koeman. said on Tuesday that the performance of the Argentinian captain Lionel Messi "could be better."  

Argentina forward Messi, 33, had tried to leave the club this summer and called the transfer saga "a brutal drama," but his attempt failed because of his €700 million release clause.

"I don't have any complaints or doubts about his effort," said Koeman, whose side open their Champions League campaign against Ferencvaros on Tuesday.

"Right now his performances could be better. On a day-to-day basis, he's happy and wants to play and be the team's captain," the Dutch coach added, according to BBC. 

Messi is in the final year of his contract and will come up against Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo in Group G of this season's Champions League, a competition they have not won since 2015.

"When you're at Barcelona you always want to be there fighting for trophies, be it in La Liga or Europe," said the former Netherlands manager.

"We aren't the favourites, but we can go far."