FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.12.2008 16:59

Messi: “It won’t be like the League game”

Berta Brau

Messi thinks Atlético Madrid, Barça’s opponents in the last 16 of the Spanish Cup, will be a tough team to beat. However, having the second leg at home is an advantage.

Leo Messi is now a ‘Personality’, having been given the Sports Personality prize by radio presenter Luis Del Olmo at the 12th edition of the Personality Awards. The event was held on the same day as the draw for the last 16 of the Spanish Cup which has pitted Barcelona against Atlético Madrid. Leo Messi gave his view of a rival he describes as “tough” to Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat.

“We’ve got to keep our heads”

Although he knows it will be a difficult tie, Messi says that “we’ve got to keep our heads and continue playing the way we are”. The Argentine also knows it won’t be the same as the recent League match when Barça thrashed Atlético 6-1: “They are a tough side to beat and we know it’ll be a different kettle of fish, but it’s a two-legged affair and we’re at home in the second one”.

Calm and thorough

Barça is in really good form at present, topping the League with excellent goals for and against figures. “Luckily we’re doing well, things are coming off and we need to keep on going that way,” said Messi. “We just have to keep on working and doing things the way we have so far which means keeping calm and being thorough.”