Quotes From Messi

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is struggling with a leg injury as the 2009 winners prepare to host Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. The Argentine World Player of the Year, joint top scorer in this season’s competition with eight goals, had an injury scare on international duty and was only used as a substitute in the 1-0 La Liga win at Villarreal on Saturday.

“In Villarreal I did not feel good,” Messi told a news conference on Tuesday at Barca’s Nou Camp stadium. “I’ll work as hard as possible so that the discomfort disappears and little by little I feel better.” Messi warned against underestimating Ukraine’s Shakhtar, who shocked Barca 3-2 at the Nou Camp in the group stage in December 2008. They also pushed the Catalan club all the way in the European Super Cup in 2009, eventually losing 1-0 to a Pedro strike in extra time.

“We know it will be a very tough game as we are facing a team that has some great players and that knows how to play very good football,” Messi said. “Matches against Shakhtar are always very close,” he added. “You just have to look at the result in the European Super Cup and the last few games we have played them. We’ll have to go out there very focused as otherwise they could surprise us.”

Messi reject the idea of being players who try to intentionally hurt him. Anyway the ball’s magician revealed that the “South American qualifiers are way too much harder than even any Champions League game”, and added, “During qualifiers the teams play a very physical game and one can feel this extreme toughness, plus all rivals close their defensive lines and it becomes hard to play nice football.”

Lionel Messi was happy to see rivals Real Madrid progress into the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Lyon on Wednesday night, but hopes that Barcelona do not have to face them in the quarter finals.

In an interview with Antena 3 TV, Messi also gave his predictions on who the favourites for the competition are, giving his side a good chance of success. “I want to beat Madrid in the competition, but at another point,” said the Argentine forward. “I do not want to get them in the quarter-finals. Barcelona, Madrid and Chelsea are the favourites for the Champions League.”

The 23-year-old also spoke of his side’s lead over Madrid in the league, saying: “I don’t know if it’s key, but five points is an important advantage. Five points give us re-assurance.” On the recent doping claims which have been levelled at the club, Messi added: “We’re past all this. We do not pay attention to what is said and discussed. We dedicate ourselves to work and we continue to do so in the same way. I don’t know why people say these things, but they do not prevent us from focusing, and we go out to play.”

The Argentina international has been linked with Manchester City and Inter Milan this season. But he insists he can only see his future at Barca. “My future is here in Barcelona, I would like to finish my career at the club,” said Messi.

A confident Lionel Messi is expecting Barcelona to beat Arsenal on Tuesday, in which he stated it will be “far easier” if Cesc Fabregas doesn’t feature in the match.

Messi spoke to the English Newspaper, Daily Mirror:

“We remain confident of progressing,” , “Obviously we were bitterly disappointed to lose the first leg at the ­Emirates and felt we created more than enough chances to win the game. “But it will be a different story in Spain. I’m not sure Arsenal are a side who can play to defend – and that will leave them very open.”

“It will be a devastating blow if he [Fabregas] doesn’t play for Arsenal. He’s a big threat and so influential for them. If he failed to play it would make our job far easier.”

Barcelona only need to win 1 – 0 for them to proceed into the quarter finals (because of the away goals rule), but that is not what Barcelona want to do. Messi said: “We’re incapable of doing that [of scoring early and then defending the lead]. It’s not the way we play football. If we score once we look to score more goals regardless of the situation,” he added.

“We are a side that will always create chances. It’s important for us to be clinical and ruthless in front of goal with so much at stake. Our elimination at the hands of Inter Milan last season has served to motivate us even more We have not considered the prospect of elimination even after the first leg defeat against ­Arsenal.”

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has singled out Cesc Fabregas as the fulcrum to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger’s key player at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night, while also reiterating his belief that the World Cup winning Spaniard craves a return to his boyhood club.
Ahead of their Champions League second leg, Messi has highlighted the importance of Fabregas to the North London Premier League club, suggesting the La Liga giants will have to pay close attention to Spaniard if they are going to overturn the 2-1 deficit they endured at the Emirates.

In addition to lauding Fabregas’ ability in making Arsenal tick, the current World and European player of the year believes the midfielder would prove an equally important player at Barcelona, should he successfully engineer his exit from England.
Messi told Sport Magazine:

“There’s a lot of quality in the Arsenal team. They have many great young players and obviously it’s hard to avoid talking about Cesc Fabregas as he’s the spine of the team. It’s very clear how important his presence on the pitch is. I could easily see him playing here again and being an important player for Barcelona. I’m sure he wants to return here and be part of Barcelona, like in his younger years, and I would be happy to see him here.”