FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.10.2009 17:36

Messi: “I’m ready to play”

Jordi Clos

The Argentinian returned from Uruguay delighted that his country are in the World Cup and eager to play at Mestalla.

On Thursday at four in the afternoon, Leo Messi touched down at El Prat airport, a happy man now that Argentina are through to the 2010 World Cup, and ready to start thinking about Barça again. He would be quite willing to be at Guardiola’s disposition in Valencia on Saturday, saying “it depends on the manager, but I’m ready to play”.

Barça hired a private jet for Messi and he and directors Albert Perrín and head of football Raül Sanllehí were grateful for that. “We managed to get back much quicker thanks to the club and that means I have an extra day to rest”.

Tension packed days

On his experiences back home, Messi said “a lot was said about the team and there was a lot of criticism for Diego (Maradona), and we had to qualify no matter what … But whatever they say, Argentina can’t miss out on the World Cup”.

On a personal level, Leo Messi was self-critical, saying “I know things didn’t go the way I wanted … we suffered. Perhaps we should have done things right earlier on, but that the way things went and it came down to the last game … a lot of things need changing, we need to keep getting better, getting bigger as a team and getting ready for the World Cup. If we do things right we have a good chance because we have so many good players”.