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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Ben Hayward

Barcelona, with Lionel Messi, should have won Champions League more, says Andres Iniesta

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta believes that, with Lionel Messi in their ranks, the Catalan club should have won more Champions League trophies in recent years.

Barca won four of their five European Cups with Iniesta and Messi together at Camp Nou – in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015 – but have underachieved in the continental competition since completing the treble in Luis Enrique's first season as coach.

"I have that feeling that, in terms of Barca, having had Leo for so long... it's four Champions League won," Iniesta told Argentine sports paper Ole.

"But with the team that we had and with Leo there, surely with Barcelona we should have been able to win at least one more."

Asked about Argentina's World Cup final loss in 2014, Iniesta said: "What happened against Germany, for example, was details: little moments which tip the balance one way or the other.

"If they played another game, perhaps the result would be different."

And on Messi's enduring excellence, he said: "Leo is still surprising me. One of his great strengths is just that: he always surprises you. The consistency with which he makes the difference, game by game, year by year. And he never stops.

"Even today, after so many years and so many things, he still surprises you. That's something within reach of very few. Of nobody [else]."

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