Philippe Coutinho has applauded Lionel Messi for handing him the responsibility to take the morale-boosting spot-kick that helped Barcelona thrash Sevilla 6-3 aggregate to claim a semi-final spot in the Copa del Rey.

The Brazillian has struggled for form this term after falling behind Ousmane Dembele in the packing order, but with Frenchman still recuperating from harmstring injury, club boss Ernesto Valverde, handed him a life-line in Barcelona's frontline

The Argentine was brought down by Quincy Promes in the vital area but handed the penalty responsibilty to Coutinho to net the opener

"The penalty has come naturally," Coutinho was quoted as saying on BarcaTV.

"Leo's gesture show how great is he. The penalty, that's good for the confidence of the group.

"We knew that to overcome, we had to be involved from the beginning," the Brazilian added.

Source: https://www.legit.ng