A new documentary shows how Barcelona star Lionel Messi was accused of showing a lack of respect during his side’s Champions League clash with Liverpool.
The two European heavyweights faced off in the semi-finals of the 2018/19 UEFA competition, and it is the first-leg of the tie at Camp Nou that is highlighted in a new documentary titled Man in the Middle.
Set to air next month, the documentary has been granted behind-the-scenes access to conversations between top officials and stars, aiming to bring an insight into life as a referee.
And the exchange in question comes between match referee Bjorn Kuipers and Messi as the two sides head back onto the field of play after half-time interval.
“Messi! Come on! Hurry up and show me respect, you always do the same! Come on now!” Kuipers told the Argentine according to Spanish publication Marca via Football Espana.
The tie is of course remembered for Liverpool’s dramatic second-leg comeback against the Spanish side.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had it all to do if they were to reach the 2019 final after falling to a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou in the first-leg.
But Divock Origi’s seventh-minute strike gave them the Reds a glimmer of hope before a quick-fire double at the start of the second half from Georginio Wijnaldum turned the game on its head.
A quickly taken corner from Trent Alexander-Arnold then allowed Origi to complete the most unlikely of comebacks and secure the Reds a place in the final in Madrid.
Klopp's side would go on to beat Tottenham 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium thanks to goals from Mohammed Salah and Divock Origi to claim a sixth European Cup.
