FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.06.2007 14:22

Messi: “We have to win and hope”

Sandra Sarmiento

The Argentine forward recognises that the “squad is affected” by the result against Espanyol but remains optimistic going into the final game of the season. “we have to win and hope.”

Barça suffered a cruel fate on Saturday night, within 15 seconds, Madrid equalised with Zaragoza and Raul Tamudo did the same at Camp Nou. “The squad is affected. Within two minutes, we had let an important opportunity slip from our grasp. However, we must move on and think about winning the final game of the season”, said Messi on Sunday. “There’s still one game left and Mallorca can draw with or even beat Madrid. We have to stay hopeful.” The football world has seen some incredible moments, anything can happen in the next games.

Fatigue

In the last few games at Camp Nou, Barça have had many opportunities to finish games off, however, on two occasions, Betis and Espanyol, the visitors have drawn level. “It’s true that this season the same thing has happened on occasions, we don’t control the games and the games finish with a share of the points” said Messi, who recognised that the team “played well all game but began to tire a little towards the end.”

Hand ball

Raul Tamudo opened the scoring for the blan-i-blaus, Messi levelled the scores with a goal coming off his hand, “you can talk as much as you like about the goal but these things happen in football. It only served to get us a point.” Asked whether the goal compared to that of Maradona, the Argentine responded “to compare me to Maradona is of no use; he’s unique. I don’t try to replicate what he’s done, they’re simply plays that are produced in the game.”

Mallorca

Barça need all three points against Nastic de Tarragona in the last game of the season and hope there is an upset in Madrid. The opponents of Madrid will be Gregorio Manzano’s Mallorca. Messi sees no problem in giving an incentive for Mallorca to win. “why not? If it’s an incentive to win, I don’t see any problem. It’s all to get Mallorca to win the three points.