'We won't run any risks with Messi'

After the standard opening round of questions, Ernesto Valverde was soon inundated with questions about star man Leo Messi, as had happened to Sergi Roberto during an earlier press conference.

The Argentine is attracting the most attention ahead of the clash with Italian side Inter, although the Barcelona coach could give very little by way of a response. 

"We have to wait for the last training session, I've brought in practically all of the players available to me, Leo is on the very edge of being ready, but we are giving ourselves until the latest opportunity, we'll see how he feels. He has to be sure that he is ready, " assured the coach. 

The Azulgrana coach admitted that he has considered all the options, with or without Messi, for the match: "There are three possibilities or four, that he plays at the start, that or he goes to the stands, what we are not going to do is take any risk".

Valverde was surprised when confronted with the question if Messi was necessary or not; "Of course? It is necessary for Messi to recover as soon as possible!"

The coach also reasserted his belief by adding that it would be "even better" if Messi recovered in time to face Inter. 

If Barcelona live through the Rosario native, in Inter the capital is Nainggolan, for whom the Barça boss also had words of praise. 

"He is a very important player which we will not ignore. He has a dangerous shot and presses hard, in the last game, he played right until the end", said Valverde. 

The Barça coach was also quizzed on the respective importance of the two players for each side, and said: "The Inter coach will say Nainggolan and we Messi, both are important, but what matters is the overall game, you do not win with one or lose from another."

-----------A very complicated match----------

The complex dissection that Valverde made of opponents Inter suggests that the Barça boss is expecting a tough match at the Giuseppe Meazza: "We expect the same rival that we faced at the Nou Camp, perhaps slightly more aggressive in the press as they will be playing on their own turf."

Valverde is not content to just win, he wants to do so in a good manner.

The Barça coach emphasised: "With the identity of Inter, who are intense and want to dominate the match, they do not want to submit to an opponent, the way they manage the game, press high and all of those aspects will make them so successful come the end of the season."

He continued: " In a good vein of form, taking hold of many games, we meet them in a good period, it will be a difficult game, as it always will be in this stadium, we hope for the best Inter."

Turning the focus back to his own side, Valverde addressed questions regarding the disparity between Barcelona's excellent 'El Clasico' performance and the tough win earned against Rayo Vallecano only a week later.

The Barcelona coach admitted that his side need to have more control and be more forceful, saying: "Football works both ways, we need to control the game to have chances, we understand the game from the point of possession, which Inter also try to achieve, they have a goalkeeper who is good with his feet, and have means to try to play the ball out well from the back. 

"But then you have to be forceful in both boxes, it's not a matter of taking the ball from one side to the other, then it is just a matter of how the game pans out", he concluded.

Valverde also noted that while his side are making progress, their path to the knockout stages is not yet sealed: "We are not qualified yet, so need to stay calm. We struggled in the league and the Champions League because rivals are difficult it will be an intense match. It is what this Inter demands , to go out to win from the first whistle "

 

November 5, 2018