Lionel Messi (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=229397/index.html) has insisted that coach Pep Guardiola (http://www.theinfostride.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=77901/index.html) is "more important" to Barcelona than he is, despite taking his tally for the season to a remarkable 50 goals.
The Argentinian scored five times in Barça's 7-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen last Wednesday, before netting both goals in the 2-0 reverse of Racing Santander yesterday to leave him just three shy of his stunning return for the whole of 2010/11.
However, with uncertainty continuing to surround the future of Guardiola, who is out of contract in the summer and has not yet committed to a new deal, Messi sought to highlight the outstanding role played by the coach in his three and a half years in charge at Camp Nou.
"Guardiola is more important than me, without doubt," Messi said. "Since he arrived at the club, he has changed everything. We have won so much and for me Guardiola is a fundamental part of our project."
fifa.com