Wish I had Leo Messi: Ronald Koeman

Barcelona players celebrate a goal against Sociedad during their Spanish League match on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman admitted on Sunday he would prefer to still have Lionel Messi in his team. Koeman saw his Messi-less side start their Liga campaign with a 4-2 win over Real Sociedad, 10 days after the Argentina star revealed he was ending his 20-year career at the club.

"Hey, if I had to choose, I would still prefer to have Leo Messi in my team," said Koeman. "We no longer have a player who can decide the fate of matches on his own - now it will be a collective effort." Messi, 34, has moved to PSG, one of the few clubs who can afford to pay him.

Ronald Koeman

Captain Gerard Pique gave Barcelona a 19th minute lead with his 50th goal for the club. Martin Braithwaite found the net in first half injury time and in the 59th minute. Sergi Roberto added a fourth in the last minute of the game.

Sociedad came back from 3-0 down to get to 3-2 thanks to goals from Julen Lobete, 20, in the 82nd minute and a 30-metre free-kick from skipper Mikel Oyarzabal three minutes later.

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