The brilliant Phillipe Coutinho’s cheeky celebration has drawn considerable fire from the Barcelona faithful. However, teammates Sergio Busquets and Clement Lenglet were quick to come to his defense.
Coutinho has been subject to consistent criticism for his poor performances. After spending a huge sum for his transfer, much was expected of the Brasilian. However, his form has hit the skids since joining the Catalan club.
Not one to get bogged down by abuse, the roving attacker embellished his name on last night’s quarter-final tie against Manchester United. Coasting after two Messi goals, the ex-Liverpool star curled in a fine finish past David De Gea to put the tie to bed. He wasn’t done, however.
Coutinho followed it up with a finger to the ear celebration, reportedly aimed at the home support.
Coutinho doesn't care, haters pic.twitter.com/uRs4XBVWHp
— BarçaTimes Media (@BTVideoClips) April 17, 2019
Speaking to the media after the match, his teammates Busquets and Lenglet saw no ill-will in his celebration:
“I do not care about the celebration, what matters to me is the goal. Coutinho is a great player, he has balls,” Lenglet remarked.
.@Phil_Coutinho's rocket was voted last night's best goal 🎯 pic.twitter.com/WUksW01hcG
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) April 17, 2019
“I did not see anything. I know he celebrated with anger, with desire.
“It was an important goal for him after the criticism he has received. He is a world-class player,” claimed Busquets.
#BARMUN #BARMUN
— Wilde Chege (@ChegeWilde) April 16, 2019
comementator: lovely ball from messi to alba. Alba to coutinho
Coutinho: pic.twitter.com/nOKuJgetSx
Coutinho will feel glad to have received the support of his teammates and will look to reproduce his best form for Barcelona, potentially against ex-flame Liverpool.