FCBARCELONA.CAT

18.12.2009 11:55

Messi’s final

Roger Bogunyà (enviat especial) / Jordi Clos

Leo Messi, one of the sensations of the semi final, hopes his side plays the same against Estudiantes. On his injury, he said “I finished the game with a bit of pain, but luckily my ankle didn’t swell up”.

All he needed was a minute to make his impact on the Clubs World Cup, and Messi had Abu Dhabi on its feet. This city is crying out for more of the same on a historical day for Barça. “We have a score to settle and I hope we win this title. I’d like to score, but it’s the title that’s most important” he said. He is quite fit to play, saying that in the semi final “I finished the game with a bit of pain, but luckily my ankle didn’t swell up”.

Special game

Messi will, of course, be facing his compatriots from Estudiantes de la Plata. He said “there are no favourites in a final. Both of us have the same chance to win. We will play as we have done all year, because it has served us so well … but we always want more, though with the same mentality and the same desire to get things right”.

He is also looking forward to meeting an old friend. “It is a special day for me because I have never played against an Argentinian team, let alone in such a situation. And I have a lot of affection for Verón. When we have been together with the national team and at the Copa America, it was him who came up to me and helped me fit in with the players when I was new to the team”.

No fear of Argentinian roughness

He is also familiar with full back Clemente Rodríguez, in what could be a veritable battle of the titans on the wing. “He is a great player, who also supports the attacks, he moves up a lot. But it’s not a game between us two. There are several factors, and I still don’t know who’ll be playing on my wing.” Estudiantes have a tradition of being a physical team, but that doesn’t bother Messi: “I don’t know what the game will be like, but that’s why there’s a referee, and he’ll make the decisions”.