Lionel Messi is doing everything he can to help Philippe Coutinho re-build his confidence. The Brazilian has endured a torrid time at the Nou Camp since joining from Liverpool last January.
And he has been linked with a return to Anfield or a move to Manchester United .
But he slotted home a penalty in tonight’s Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg clash with Sevilla to reduce Barcelona’s arrears to 2-1 on aggregate.
Messi made a point of giving the ball to his teammate after the Argentine was fouled in the area.
Coutinho went on to add a second as Barcelona ran out 6-1 winners on the night to triumph 6-3 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Coutinho hailed team-mate Lionel Messi for letting him take a penalty. After struggling in the 2-0 defeat in Seville last week Coutinho was feeling the pressure at Camp Nou, where he has failed to reach the level he showed at Liverpool .
However after Messi was brought down by Quincy Promes in the 13th minute, the Argentine star gave Coutinho the ball and told him to score the penalty which launched Barcelona ’s comeback.
“I tried everything and nothing was coming off. Leo encouraged me to take the penalty and that worked to help me gain confidence,” said Coutinho.
“It was not anything we had prepared, it was very kind on his part. The gesture shows how great he is as a person.