Espanyol coach Quique Sanchez Flores chatted with Lionel Messi after their thrashing by Barcelona.

Messi was outstanding in Barca's 4-1 win.

"I gave congratulations for his humility. It's basic. He does not complain, they throw him to the ground, they hit him ... I think he's basically awesome. We have a good feeling.

"I do not know how many shirts I have since I started asking for them from him, like my son, who is from Barcelona.

"He is able to change every game constantly. He is the only player in the world that if he proposed to score a hat-trick in each match he could get it."

On again blanking Barca coach Luis Enrique, Sanchez Flores added: "Sometimes you approach, sometimes not, sometimes you leave before ... Nothing special."