Dani Alves has insisted that it is normal former teammate Lionel Messi is "angry" at Barcelona after they relinquished their La Liga title to Real Madrid.
Messi hit out at the club on the back of Thursday's 2-1 home loss to Osasuna, coming on the same evening that Madrid sealed top spot with a game to spare.
As well as questioning the attitude of his colleagues, the Argentina international also admitted that he fears "weak" Barcelona will exit the Champions League to Napoli next month.
Alves, who spent eight years playing alongside Messi at Camp Nou, understands why the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is so upset.
"Leo is a natural winner. He doesn't like losing," he told Catalunya Radio. "When the team loses, it's normal he gets angry, he always wants to win. Just like me. We always want to win.
"He's been doing what he does for so long, he knows when a team gives one thing and when it gives another. That's why he says what works and what doesn't because he knows.
"He's spent so many years at Barca, experienced so many things, and he knows exactly what the team needs to win. He sees, what I feel, a lack of support."
Brazil international Alves won 23 trophies at Barcelona and is now plying his trade for Sao Paulo in his homeland.
Daniel Lewis
