‘We would bring Messi on if we needed him’

Lionel Messi came off the bench to haul Barcelona back from a goal down to a 3-2 win against Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday. Barca coach Ronald Koeman took the surprising decision to leave Messi out and in-form Frenkie de Jong out of his starting lineup. “Above all I made the rotations because the players are exhausted,” Koeman said. “I discussed resting Leo with him yesterday and we agreed we would bring him on if we needed him. He came on and changed the game, he brought life to our play,” he added. PHOTO: REUTERS