Guardiola hails Messi after five-star show

MAGNIFICENT:Messi on course for a goals recordBARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola has refused to say whether he plans to stay at Camp Nou beyond the end of the current season.The 41-year-old coach has been strongly linked with Chelsea and Inter in recent weeks as his contract is due to expire at the end of the current campaign.He has remained cryptic about his future at Barca, and Wednesday’s 7-1 Champions League victory against Bayer Leverkusen has done little to make him express his desires.“Sunday is when Barcelona play their next match,” Guardiola told Sky Germany. “We will see what happens in the future. I hold my cards close to my chest.”Guardiola then praised Lionel Messi, who is just eight goals away from becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer after he netted five times against Leverkusen.“This was a special night for Messi, we have to prepare a big party for him the day he breaks Cesar Rodriguez’s record,” Guardiola said.“I will always be able to say that I coached Messi. He teaches us to compete and with his behavior. The throne belongs to him and it is only up to him to decide when he leaves it.”Despite the heavy scoreline against Leverkusen, the Spanish coach dismissed the notion that his side had an easy task.

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Guardiola hails Messi after five-star show