Why Jose Mourinho does not want Lionel Messi to play against Cristiano Ronaldo in the last eight

Jose Mourinho says that he does not want Juventus to draw Barcelona in the last 16 games of the Champions League, so Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo avoid confronting each other.

The two greatest players of the modern era could meet for the first time since Ronaldo's summer move from Real Madrid to Turin.

Messi and Ronaldo have clashed at numerous Clasico matches, but are now limited to top-ranked European competitions.

But Mourinho thinks it would be a "mess" for the game of the last eight.

"I would not like Juventus against Barcelona because I think it would be really special Barcelona against Juventus in the final or semi-final," he said.

"Two big teams that do not know the success in the Champions League in recent years, of course, much more than Juventus in Barcelona,

"And led by two important players, Cristiano and Messi, it's something I would not lose in the quarterfinals, I would wait a little more."

Four English teams make up half of the quarterfinals and Mourinho hopes to face Manchester in the last eight.

"I would like English teams to face each other without any preference," he added.

"But I would make two games between English teams, which would mean that two teams would be in the semi-finals.

"I think if the draw gives something like Manchester City against Manchester United, or Tottenham against Liverpool, for example, I think it would be absolutely fantastic matches."