Barcelona star Lionel Messi has jumped to the defence of underfire Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster.

"Schuster has given much to Madrid," said Messi. "It is surprising that they want to dump him as he has won a Liga. I do not think it is good that he is under scrutiny when the Liga is not even halfway through.

"The people at the club and in Madrid get very nervous when you lose two games in a row."