FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.07.2008 20:32

Messi pleased with strength and unity

Roger Bogunyà

Lionel Messi continued his fantastic start to pre-season with a hat-trick against Dundee United on Saturday and praised the strength of the squad for the team's emphatic 5-1 victory at Tannadice.

"The squad is looking very strong and is becoming more united all the time," he said. "We are pleased with the two games that we have played and with everything else we have achieved in Scotland because we are looking good." Barça's secured their second successive win having beaten Hibernian by six goals on Thursday at Murrayfield.

Coaching instructions

After Pep Guardiola's first two games in charge, Messi reflected on the instructions he has given. "He has his style and is trying to teach us all what he wants. He has asked me, along with the other wide players, to be involved more in the middle and to move in when we do not have the ball and also to ensure that we pressurise, like we did under Rijkaard."

Henry pleased

Thierry Henry equalised for Barça in the first half against Dundee United and he said afterwards that he was pleased with the defensive display. "We are pressurising high up when we lose the ball," he explained. "The first half was difficult because they played well and the pitch was small and dried out a bit which slowed things down. I think that was done on purpose to suit their team."