Carvalho accepts Messi antics

Ricardo Carvalho says some of his team-mates may have acted like Lionel Messi.

Ricardo Carvalho will not be too critical of Lionel Messi's play-acting because he thinks some of his Chelsea team-mates might have behaved in a similar fashion.

The former Porto defender is eagerly awaiting the return leg of the UEFA Champions League tie with Barcelona, after Chelsea were reduced to ten men in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Barca ran out 2-1 winners but Carvalho insists the tie is not yet over, whilst refusing to join the criticism from coach Jose Mourinho of Argentinian youngster Messi.

The South American prodigy clearly overreacted to Asier Del Horno's challenge and the Spanish full back was shown a straight red card by referee Terje Hauge.

"Mourinho says what he thinks and what he feels," explained Carvalho to Sport. "For me, Messi did his job.

"I do not think that, after falling on the floor, it was necessary to roll about.

"It was exaggerated and he made the most of it, in my opinion.

"Del Horno missed the ball and collided with Messi because he was going so fast and the two of them both jumped up.

"I do not believe that it was deliberate by Del Horno. The referee thought it was.

"Messi, who is a good player, did what he had to.

"I am not going to criticise him because it could happen to one of our players too."

Mourinho's fury towards Messi was frowned upon in some quarters because Dutch winger Arjen Robben seemed guilty of overreacting to Jose Reina's indiscretion during Chelsea's win over Liverpool recently.

"You can be sure that we will not go with the mentality of someone who is defeated," he added. "We do not give up despite being presented with a disadvantage."

When asked to rate Chelsea's chances of progression, he replied: "Only 30 percent. But we are going to see what happens in Barcelona.

"We want to go to the quarter finals and I hope that we can enjoy a little more luck than we did in the first match. We are going to give it all we have got."