Coutinho sends message to Barcelona boo boys and girls
The former Liverpool player started in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester United, and made his mark on the hour.
Philippe Coutinho sent a clear message to the Barcelona fans at the Camp Nou on Tuesday evening as he scored a fabulous solo goal, and then celebrated with his fingers in his ears.
Coutinho's response to Barça fans
A goal up from the first leg at Old Trafford, Lionel Messi was quick to put his Champions League quarter-final drought to bed. He then killed off the tie as a contest before the 20-minute mark had been reached.
As the match entered the second half, the early promise that United had shown had all but gone, and it was more a matter of if Barça would add to their 3-0 aggregate tally. Coutinho was the man to do just that, and in spectacular, if rather familiar, fashion. A curling shot from outside the box on the hour flew into the top right corner of the goal, and David de Gea's outstretched arm could do nothing to stop it.
The former Liverpool hero motioned towards the home crowd, where spectators were celebrating wildly not only a stunning goal, but also a guaranteed semi-final place in the Champions League, a competition that has eluded them in recent years. His gesture, however, was to put his fingers in his ears as they cheered, and then looked angry with the stands as he moved away. With so much expected of the player since his big-money move, fans have made it clear that they are not pleased with his performances.
How that will play with the Barça faithful in the coming weeks, with continued rumours of him departing in the summer, we will watch with interest.