Lionel Messi has again confessed his loyalty to former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. Messi, though, laughed off talk that Guardiola has already inspired him to think about a coaching future.

"Guardiola has made me grow as a player, especially tactically, he explained things to me that others had never done," he said.

"But could I go into coaching because of him? No, I don't think so!"

Asked about Guardiola's departure, Messi added: "It was a very difficult week: we lost to Real Madrid, then eliminated from the Champions League and finally the announcement that he was leaving. The blow was very hard."