Lionel Messi thinks Barcelona have to focus on the Champions League this season after underwhelming among Europe's elite in each of their past three campaigns.
Barca last won the Champions League in 2014-15 and have failed to get beyond the quarter-finals since.
Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Roma, respectively, conquered them on those occasions, though their most recent failure was surely the worst – Eusebio Di Francesco's men going through 4-4 on away goals despite losing the first leg 4-1.
That disappointment did not impact on their domestic campaign, as they cruised to a double, winning La Liga and the Copa del Ray, but Messi is eager for Barca to improve in Europe after being drawn alongside Inter, Tottenham and PSV in this year's group stage.
Speaking to Catalunya Radio, Messi said: "It's time. This year we have the Champions League again.
"We've gone out in the quarter-finals three years in a row and the last time was the worst of all, because of how we played and that we came with a result that was in our favour.
"We have to focus on the Champions League for the club, the team, and the fans. We have a spectacular team – that's why we say that, because we can compete for the Champions League."
A four-time winner of Europe’s most prestigious trophy, Messi has topped the goalscoring charts in five separate continental campaigns, as well as providing the most assists in the latter two of those seasons.
However, three consecutive triumphs for bitter rivals Real Madrid has left Barcelona frustrated at being unable to compete with their peers from La Liga.
Before Messi’s inaugural triumph in 2004-05, the club had not won the tournament since it was rebranded as the Champions League from the European Cup, last notching up the title in 1991-92 against Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium.
Barcelona will be favourites however to progress from Group B, where they are the top-ranked side alongside Tottenham.
They will host PSV on their first matchday at Camp Nou on September 18 before travelling a fortnight later to London to face Spurs at Wembley on October 3.
Source : Ryan Benson of Goal.com
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