BARCELONA'S greatest ever player must take some blame for their greatest ever failure, according to another Nou Camp legend.
Brazilian Ronaldo says Lionel Messi and Co should be hailed for their 3-0 first leg win but hammered for the 4-0 return loss at Anfield that put Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Messi provided nearly all of Barca's finest moments in the opening leg, completing his own two-goal haul with a majestic free-kick.
But a week later the Argentinian, as much as the rest of of his team, crumbled under the weight of Liverpool's pace, tempo and exhilarating attacking.
Stand-in striker Divock Origi and powerful sub midfielder Gini Wijnaldum hit two apiece as the Redspulled off a 4-3 aggregate triumph.
And as Jurgen Klopp's men prepare for an all-English final with fellow comeback kings Tottenham, two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo believes every Barca player should take responsibility for their capitulation.
The ex-Inter Milan and Read Madrid star, 42, told a Santander event: "It is unfair to point to culprits to a defeat.
I see that Barcelona has a great team and has the best player in the world, which is Messi.
I read that other players lost and Barca wins [because of] Messi. It is a tremendous injustice to all the players and the coaching staff.
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"You should be a little more careful with criticism.
But Ronaldo, who was world player of the year three times compared to Messi's five, has no doubts Liverpool merit their place in the final at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium on June 1.
He said of the Reds' sensational second-leg success: "[They] had more motivation, intensity and desire.
In the first part, Barcelona had chances to score a goal that would have changed everything.
"But Liverpool deserved it. They have shown strength and emotional intelligence."
And he believes Klopp's heroes would still have gone through, even if Trent Alexander-Arnold had not conjured their final goal with a quick, clever corner for Wijnaldum to sweep in.
Ronaldo said: In the fourth goal there was a mistake, but I think that if it had not [been scored], it would have arrived in a different way.
"They played the game of their lives."
Ronaldo added: It's a shame for Barcelona, because they played a great game in the first leg. We all enjoyed Messi.
It's a pity that there is not a Spaniard in the final, but Liverpool deserved it more."
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