Messi endorses fitness gamble

Lionel Messi says he is glad he risked himself in Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

The 25-year-old picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg of the last-eight clash with the Ligue 1 side and began the return at Camp Nou on the bench.

But after Javier Pastore put PSG 1-0 up in the return, Messi was introduced in a bid to change the course of the tie.

His impact led to Pedro’s equalising goal, sending Barca through on away goals.

“It was worth risking, we are now through to the semi-finals and we will now work to heal the injury,” Messi told Chinese social network Tencent Weibo.

Barca will face one of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund over two legs, with the draw to be held on Friday.