Football
ESPN staff 6y

PSV coach Mark van Bommel says players can 'fight for Lionel Messi's shirt'

In football we have seen fights between opponents, between fans and even sometimes between disgruntled teammates. The full-time whistle of PSV's game at Camp Nou could result in a different kind of "fight" altogether. PSV coach and former Netherlands and Bayern Munich captain Mark van Bommel has given his players the green light to "fight for Messi's shirt" at full-time.

Briefly teammates with Messi at Barcelona between 2005-06, Van Bommel didn't hold back in Monday's news conference. "If tomorrow we get a good result I don't care if they fight for Messi's shirt", said the 41-year-old coach ahead of Tuesday's match with the Spanish champions. Van Bommel, knowing that some of his players likely will be star struck, also emphasised that his players need to be "professionals" about it and not ask Messi for his shirt at half-time, like others have done in the past.

PSV will be hoping to pull off the shocker on Tuesday in Group B but thanks to their coach Van Bommel will have some extra motivation to go out and get a positive result against Barcelona. One thing is for sure, the race and drama over who will get Messi's shirt promises to be must-see TV!

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