Lionel Messi: 'Barcelona struggle against defensive teams'

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has admitted that his side struggle against defensive teams.

The Argentina international also claims that not having an alternative plan to combat such teams has affected them adversely.

"Teams that sit back and solely defend tend to cause us problems and have knocked us out in the past," he told TyC.

"There have been moments where we paid a heavy price for not having an alternative game-plan.

"Think about teams such as Chelsea [in 2011-12] and Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. AC Milan and Real Madrid also played us in the same way this season."

Messi has scored 42 goals in 28 La Liga matches so far this season.