Chris Smalling reveals what Lionel Messi told him after smashing his face during Champions League match

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed what Lionel Messi told after their collision during Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils’ defender clattered the legendary forward with Smalling’s shoulder smashing Messi’s face during the clash, and his flailing arm also catching the Argentinian, giving the 31-year-old a bloodied nose and eye in the process.

The amount of blood made the injury look worse than it was, and after he received some treatment Messi was able to carry on in the quarter-final first leg.

Messi told him he knew he didn’t mean to leave him covered in blood following his tough challenge in the encounter.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, the Manchester United defender revealed that he shook hands with Messi after the game.

“‘Yeah we spoke after. I didn’t realise at the time actually that I had caught him like that,” said Smalling

“But after the game we had a brief chat, shook hands and he said he knew it was an accident.”