Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has played down Lionel Messi's role in his side's 3-0 Champions League defeat at Barcelona last night.
The Argentine scored twice in the final 13 minutes as the Catalans thumped their Bavarian counterparts to place one foot in the final of the competition.
Messi also played in Neymar in the dying moments as the Brazilian further dented Bayern's hopes of reaching the showpiece in Berlin on June 6.
However, Guardiola, whom the 27-year-old played under for four years in Catalunya, says that it was not just Messi who punished his charges.
"I will not say what I think of Messi. They are not just Leo, Barca are a very good team," he told reporters.
"They were very solid, in defence and attack. They have great players, Neymar, Luis Suarez.
"We tried to control the game so that Messi would not participate so much. We were 15 minutes away from a very good result."
Bayern, who won the competition in 2013, host the Blaugrana at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Shane Callaghan
