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28.03.2007 14:28
Messi puts Barça first
Leo Messi has said that his priority is Barça rather than playing for Argentina in the Copa America. He wants to see out the season without any more injury troubles and hopes his excellent form can continue.
Leo Messi, speaking at a Wednesday press conference, has said that although he would love to play at the Copa American in Venezuela from June 26 to July 15, his club is more important to him. Barça face Getafe in the Copa de Rey semi finals, and Messi has said that “obviously, if we get to the final, I would hope to be there, I’d want to play. Barça is my team and I hope things can be arranged so that I can be in both places”.
Motivating challenges
The Argentinian feels the side is perfectly focused on getting the job done this year, and flatly disagrees with comments made by Arrigo Sacchi this week, in which the Italian coach claims Barça have grown over-confident and don’t seem to be trying as hard as they used to. Messi retorted by saying “we are top of the League, we are in the Cup semi finals. So we still have every chance of winning things. We have a chance of winning the league for the third time in a row, so we aren’t like that at all”.
The fixture list
Barcelona’s closest rivals in the title race all have to meet each other over the next few weeks, and Messi agrees that that is not a bad thing from his own team’s point of view. He said “I am not sure if we have the most favourable fixture list. Any game is difficult, but the fact that they (Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla) still have to play each other is something we can use to our advantage, but that’s long as we get decent results by winning ourselves”.
Comparisons
Asked about possible signings for the coming season, Messi commented that his two compatriots, Palacios and Saviola, are very similar players. “They are both great players” he said. “They are quick, score lots of goals and play in a similar way”.
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Youngsters with a future
Bojan Krkic and Giovanni Dos Santos are two of the most lauded members of the present Barça B
squad, and although both are still very young, it is often commented that Leo Messi never suffered
from being promoted to the first team ‘ahead of his time’. The Argentinian player feels
the two teenagers look ready for the leap into the big time. “Both of those players could
play anywhere and in any team. There would be no problem. I got my chance because a lot of players
were injured, and I was needed. But, I’ll say they are two great players”.
