Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez insists he has never set out to hurt an opponent after he was accused of stamping on Lionel Messi.
The incident was one of a number during and after the match between the players as Barcelona won a fiery Copa del Rey first leg tie.
“Because I’ve been asked as a result of the excessive reaction yesterday, and it has generated a big bubble with what happened. I’ve never gone out to hurt anyone,” Sport quotes Lopez as saying.
“A derby is a special game. It has great intensity and the players from the cantera such as me particularly like it. I have a clear conscience.
“I’ve enjoyed [the two games] against Barca. They’ve been the best, most special in recent months because I felt the glory of defending the Espanyol shirt in a derby.”
