Barcelona News: Lionel Messi promises to bring Champions League back to Nou Camp

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Updated: August 20, 2018
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Barcelona's Lionel Messi addressed the fans who gathered at the Camp Nou for the first time as the club captain. The Argentine international admitted that it is a great source of pride to wear the armband which was previously worn by the likes of legendary Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta etc.

He also promised the fans that his team will do everything possible to bring the UEFA Champions League back to Camp Nou this season. Barcelona, after winning the tournament in 2014-15, were knocked out in the knockout stage of the competition by Atletico Madrid, Juventus and AS Roma in the following seasons while their arch-rivals Real Madrid have gone on to win the title on all three occasions.

Before Barcelona's preseason Joan Gamper Trophy match against Boca Juniors, Messi addressed the fans and said, 'It's a source of great pride to be captain. I know what it means to wear the armband but I am lucky to have had great role models such as [Carles] Puyol, Xavi and the great Andres whom we will miss this season.

Leo #Messi
The words of our captain
#ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/qJYgPa1fIR

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 16, 2018

'Regarding this year, I think we have set a platform to get excited, the signings that came will help us a lot to be better than we were. Although last year we won La Liga and the Copa del Rey, we all got stung in the Champions League. We promise that we will do everything possible so that this beautiful cup returns to the Camp Nou again. Visca el Barca! Visca Catalunya!'

Messi was handed the captaincy after the exit of Andes Iniesta to Japanese club Vissel Kobe. Though Messi has captained the team on numerous occasions in the past on the virtue of being Iniesta's deputy, he has been officially named the club captain for the upcoming season with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Sergio Roberto being his deputies.

The defending La Liga champions started their league season against Alaves on Saturday, winning the game 3-0 thanks to brace from Messi.