"Let's enjoy Messi and stop thinking about the contract renewal photo"
Ahead of Barcelona's Champions League match against Juventus on Wednesday evening, Ernesto Valverde spoke again about Lionel Messi's contract renewal at the club.
"Let's enjoy Messi and stop thinking about the contract renewal photo. He travelled here with us and we're not going to think much past that," the Barca boss said.
Juventus eased to a 3-0 win over the Catalans at home in the first leg of their Champions League Quarter-final last season, a game that Valverde has been studying closely over the last week.
“I watched that first leg over and over again to prepare. That was a knockout round and the circumstances are different now, but we do know Juve start very strong and we must be ready for that initial assault.
Valverde also took a minute to praise Paulo Dybala, a player who has consistently been linked with a move to the Nou Camp of the last few seasons, but insisted he is not the only man Barcelona need to be wary of.
“They have many talented players, Paulo Dybala probably one of the most important, but Miralem Pjanic, Gonzalo Higuain and Juan Cuadrado can also make a difference. If you focus on defending against one, you just create spaces for the others, so it’s important to defend and work as a unit.
The Spanish giants are in somewhat of a defensive crisis ahead of their trip to Italy. With Gerard Pique suspended in La Liga and Javier Mascherano injured, Thomas Vermaelen could be thrown into action at some point in the game.
"He comes from playing two games with Belgium, I understand he's ready to play. We do have to find other players because Pique is suspended for the weekend but we have three centre-backs for tomorrow and really that’s the most important game. I think we're covered," Valverde concluded.