Manchester United defender Chris Smalling says there is no animosity between him and Barcelona's Lionel Messi following Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final.
Forward Messi was left with a bloodied nose after a robust Smalling challenge in the first half of United's 1-0 loss.
"We spoke afterwards. We had a brief chat and shook hands," Smalling, 29, told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"He knew it was an accident."
Barca had already scored the only goal of the game at the time of the challenge, with Messi - generally quiet by his standards - crossing for Luis Suarez, whose header deflected in off United defender Luke Shaw.
Referring to his aerial challenge on Messi, Smalling added: "I didn't realise at the time that I'd actually caught him like that.
"Suarez [came up to me] after the game as well. We had a good tussle and he just shook my hands afterwards and said 'good luck'.
"It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best."
Spanish giants Barcelona are 11 points clear at the top of La Liga and United face a huge task at the Nou Camp, but Smalling is confident Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have the ability to produce a comeback.
"We know it can be done," said the England centre-back.
"If we can carry on from the second-half performance when we were really on the front foot, brought intensity to the game and caused them a few problems, that's what we need to go there and do.
"We knew that we couldn't go completely gung-ho in that second half because there is another leg.
"We've got to make sure we go there with no regrets and leave everything there to give ourselves the best possible chance."
In a wide-ranging interview with the Football Daily podcast, Smalling - a patron of education charity Football Beyond Borders, which supports disadvantaged young people in the UK - also discussed the impact of losing his father at the age of five, growing up with little money and abuse from fans.
Longlife2000
229
Warrior 🔥
dettaboss4l
169
Barca fans, can you please chill, The challenge by Smalling was unintentional and also stop being so cocky about the champions league, You can support the team and hope for the best but don't brag about it[Sadtolook]
kartiklm10cr7
133
What an attitude. He simply said it was an accident and finishes this topic. Smalling did it deliberately for all the people but not for this man. Messi just said it and finished it. Now no one will talk about this topic. Messi salute to you. 👏👏
Hari30n
114
"There are no accidents" - Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda 😝
Baubceiouy
95
who else is finding it difficult to pronounce dis name?[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
ZaynAhmed
80
After being raped in camp nou you still would say "it was an accident "
zogemsitlhou
74
This is a contact sport. Players are bound to get hurt. Its always sad to see a player bleed but seriously you people are always carried away. Its not like other players have never been hurt. If it was intentional or if the referee deemed it intentional surely smalling should have received a card or Atleast uefa would look into the case. Stay calm guys, your messi is alright and isnt complaining. He knows better.
Demiadd
64
I jus can’t get over how Man U player keep thinking oh Barca has weaknesses n we are going to exploit dem. So Smalling jus said if they can reproduce that second half performance n press Barca they have a good chance. Ok let me break it down for u Smalling, Man U can not press all 90+ mins even at old trafford, camp nou is a much bigger pitch n if u come out running Barca is going to allow u to bcuz they know after the first 30-40 mins the whole team is going to burn out n then they start ripping u to shreds. U pressing for the first 40 mins does not guarantee u will score a goal, Barca knows how to soak up pressure n not conceded. Now the question is, Barca wasn’t at their very best at old trafford, u talking about pressing Barca can ur team truly handle Barca really relentlessly pressing u? It’s football of course u don’t think ur gona be doing the press all game. Have u worked out a plan on how ur gona handle dat? Every Man U player I hear talking how they had a good second half n Barca has weaknesses n they gona press them but it seems ur totally ignoring the flip side which is can ur defense handle a full force Barca probing attack. That is ur million dollar question? Stop talking as if Barca is a English league decision 1 team so u don’t expect much pressure n ur only issue is how to break down their defense.
vapclmn
55
Actually Smalling tried to handle Messi from behind roughly, dashing him with shoulder to grab the ball, which Messi was going to get it. every player/team would like to win, but it does not mean in injuring others, thou the hit with his hand over his nose may be was unintentional, but his dashing from behind to grab the ball by force was intentional. whatever, it happens but he was lucky ref did not give him card n Messi was cool even thou he was bleeding. atleast by seeing him bleeding, he could have come n said sorry.... Nowhere I saw he said sorry to Messi. .. Not Good Footballing!!!
Lokimsuz
52
I am Ronaldo fan but still respect Messi I respect the king Messi forever real warrior
FungSaiYuk
50
Smalling already know whats going to happen to him on the second leg against Barca.
kartiklm10cr7
36
smalling just come to the heaven.That means camp nou. And then we will see
zogemsitlhou
9
Barca fans, can you please chill, The challenge by Smalling was unintentional and also stop being so cocky about the champions league, You can support the team and hope for the best but don't brag about it[Sadtolook]
If only there were more barca fans like you. But i suppose most of them are exclusively messi fans.