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'I do not regret' resting Messi - Valverde defiant after Barcelona defeat

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insisted he had no regrets over his decision not to play Lionel Messi despite his side's 2-0 Copa del Rey loss at Sevilla.

Messi was rested for the first leg of the quarter-final on Wednesday at Sevilla's Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán with goals from Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder putting the home side on top in the tie.

In the aftermath of the defeat, Valverde showed no remorse at leaving the Argentine superstar on the sidelines, claiming it was the right decision.

"I do not regret it. It is what I had to do," Valverde told a news conference.