Articles by "Messi"
Showing posts with label Messi. Show all posts

at May 01, 2019 0

Leo Messi has made clear his preferences for the eleven that the club will put against Liverpool. And he does not want Ousmane Dembélé, a player he accuses of being very irregular.
The French crack is very intermittent and, although in most crashes leaves more than one detail of great quality, he does not see it reliable enough to dispute the 90 minutes. He prefers to see it as revulsive. 
To be part of the game, he likes Coutinho, a footballer who, despite having starred in a mediocre season, has reacted and left a good taste in his last performances.
In addition, the Brazilian is more hardworking and more combinative. That is to say, it brings more fluidity to the team than Dembélé, more destabilizing and individualistic. And in matches of this level, they need a more compact block than loose individualities . For that, Messi is already here.
 
To all this, we add the motivational factor that assumes that the '7' is facing his old team. They insist that the former's law take effect and that 'Couti' can be the protagonist to help the Barça team achieve its goal: reach the final of the Champions League.
And if it does well, it would recover part of its cache and then be sold at a better price.
Read more »

at April 27, 2019 0

This year is happening with a huge difference of Barcelona over the other teams in LaLiga, even in the Champions League has not existed a set that so far can decipher the number of variants that have included the Catalans to that possession game at They has got used to the world of football.

Lionel Messi, as usual, has been the main star, this season the Argentine has recovered his best version as if the 31 years with which he already has not weighed at all. The Blaugrana crack is far surpassing a Cristiano Ronaldo who has had to settle for Serie A Italian, seeing their chances ended with a painful elimination against Ajax.

Despite this advantage, Messi wants to secure the Golden Ball without any surprise at the last minute, in that sense, he is aware that he must play the Champions League final. The moment of form and the security of the southpaw is such, that he has bet with Piqué and Suárez that will mark in both parties against Liverpool and that they will pass, a meal was played with them.
Now the English are worried, since it is not the first time that Messi makes some bet inside the dressing room that ends up fulfilling in the parties, it is only necessary to remember that anecdote of Yaya Touré, in which the culé star commented to him which soccer players of the picture rival were going to be the victims of their pipes.

After several campaigns without being able to be protagonists in the European championship at the level of clubs of greater prestige, Barcelona does not think to miss this opportunity in which it seems oriented the way towards the conquest of that Oregon that was targeted as the course began. Sixth Golden Ball for Messi?

Read more »

at April 23, 2019 0

EDEN HAZARD may be having a good season for Chelsea, but the team cannot always rely on him because “he’s not Lionel Messi".

That’s the opinion of former Blues midfielder Craig Burley.
Chelsea was held to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge yesterday as Burnley threw a major spanner in the works of the top four race.
The Blues are desperate to secure Champions League football for next season and are in a tight battle with Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal for the remaining two spots in the Premier League.
Currently, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only two teams confirmed for top four finishes, with the rest of the pack closely fighting it out to join them in the competition next year.
Chelsea - fourth - are level on points with third-placed Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
Behind them, Arsenal is in fifth on 66 points, whilst United are struggling from poor form recently and are on 64 points.
With all three other teams having lost this weekend, facing Burnley at home was the perfect opportunity for Maurizio Sarri’s side to get back into the top four, but they squandered the chance despite coming from behind to lead 2-1.
And Burley explained that Chelsea cannot afford to continuously rely on Hazard to get them out of trouble as the run-in continues.
“Others have to take charge, take responsibility.
“Too often they think ‘he’ll dig us out of the hole, he’ll get us a result’, but today proved that isn’t always going to be the case.”
Hazard struggled on Monday night after Callum Hudson-Odoi suffered a heartbreaking ruptured Achilles injury, which will keep him out until next season.
In the youngster's absence, Hazard was expected to be the driving force behind Chelsea's attacks but Sarri's side struggled to find a way through a stubborn Burnley.
The Londoners' next game sees them face Man United on Sunday (4.30pm).
Read more »

at April 22, 2019 0

ended up winning teammates, club, and fans. The Chilean, signed in summer, despite not being the undisputed holder, has been consecrated as the number 12 player of Barça.
Ernesto Valverde did not hesitate to entrust himself to him when the game was rough and needed a player of different conditions: aggressive, strong and intense, a profile that was not available at the Camp Nou. 
Far behind has left his problems with his character and his controversies outside the field. Now, with almost 32 years, he is a focused player, who does not raise his voice and who sacrifices himself for the team, which has a very clear goal, to achieve the triplet.
His good performance in the Santander League, and the fact that Rakitic, Busquets, and Arthur are untouchable - which will have to add to de Jong next year - had led to clubs like Tottenham, Juventus, his former squad, and Milan to ask about him.
All of them promised more prominence, a good salary, and different objectives, but all of them ambitious. S however, or at Barça are the work of letting him go just one year after paying 22 million for Messi and spoil his escape.
 
The Chilean has made good friends with Leo, who also values ​​his involvement, his commitment and his claw on the grass.
The doors are closed and, more than a goodbye, what they try is to renew their bond to reward their good course
Read more »

at April 17, 2019 0

LIONEL MESSI was caught on camera delivering a savage snub to Chris Smalling after the game as Barcelona ended Manchester United’s Champions League dream with a 3-0 win at the Nou Camp.

Messi was left shocked after ending up with a bloodied face from a Smalling challenge in the first leg of their  quarter-final clash.
And when the pair met after the final whistle i was not up for a handshake.
As the two met on the field Smalling was seen to turn as if to shake Messi’s hand, but the Argentine pretty much ignored his approach.
Instead of a friendly handshake, the 31-year-old quickly tapped the United defender on the back, before walking off and extending his hand to embrace another player.
The action might have surprised Smalling as he claimed he had spoken with Messi about the challenge in the first leg and had explained it was an accident.
Though it appeared from Messi’s actions that he clearly hasn’t forgotten the incident from the previous week.
Barca boss Ernesto Valverde even admitted after the game in Manchester it took the striker a couple of days to recover from the challenge.
For all the criticism Barca had come under for their style of play in the opening leg, few would find fault with their performance at home.

United came into the game having to overturn an away goal deficit and Marcus Rashford nearly gave the visitors a perfect start, but his shot cannoned off the bar after just 40 seconds.
Messi then didn’t waste any time opening Barca’s account as he scored after just 16 minutes.
He then grabbed himself a second four minutes later, off a mistake from keeper David de Gea, who let a weak speculative shot roll underneath his body and into the net.
"I have to say Lionel Messi is top quality and he was the difference of course. At 2-0 it was game over,” he said.
"He's different class, he and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best players of the last decade, everyone agrees on that one.
“Messi showed his quality.
"We have to aspire to get to that level of Barcelona, we can get there but we have loads of work to do.”

And the Norwegian’s compliments were echoed by Valverde after the game.
“Leo always appears in the important games," Valverde said.
"Not just to finish off the moves, but all over the pitch.
"He's involved in all our play. He gets the goals, but he also takes on responsibility in the attack.
“When he's playing like that, he's unstoppable."


Read more »

at April 16, 2019 0

Leo Messi goes for the Champions League. The Argentine was the great protagonist, with permission from David De Gea, of the meeting, which did not have much history. The Barça, four years later, returns to stand in the semifinals.
The Argentine appeared in the 16th minute to put the tie back on track. In the 20th, the culé captain, with the inestimable collaboration of the Spanish goalkeeper Manchester United, put the second with which he came to rest. Already in the second half, with everything resolved, Coutinho scored a goal of beautiful invoice to restore morale and send a hint to his critics with the celebration.
The '10' broke the gaffe that accompanied the azulgrana box and hit the table. He wants the Champions League and goes with everything. He has already understood that, if he wants to win the Golden Ball, it is a condition 'sine qua non' to raise the Orejona.
Leo is obsessed with regaining his throne and unseating Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with more gold balls in history, in addition to match in European Cups, with five.
In the long term, Messi also dreams of repeating the feat of CR7 at Real Madrid, as impossible as it seems: to be the kings of the World for three consecutive times. The leagues do not matter, if not the maximum continental competition. 
In Turin, Juventus de Ronaldo suffered against Ajax an unexpected defeat. The costumes of Barca did not lose any detail of what was happening in the Allianz Arena and saw how one of the favorites to win the championship was eliminated by the great revelation of the season.
Messi's message to Cristiano could not be more direct. He wants the Champions League and expects a rival in the final. Although yes, he has no doubts. If the 'Vecchia Signora' had arrived, the result would have been humiliating. Leo did not see Juve as the great candidate and believes that Barça would have passed the roller in the final. 
Liverpool waits in the semifinals already.

Read more »

at April 16, 2019 0

Barcelona will look to secure a place in the last four of the Champions League as they host Manchester United on Tuesday night.
The Catalan giants hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Old Trafford in their quarter-final tie and are now considered strong favorites to complete the job at home.
However, United remain a threat as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side know that they can cause their rivals' problems after the first meeting, despite failing to register a shot on target.
With the pace, movement, and quality that they have in the final third though, they could be a handful on the counter-attack and that is something Barcelona will have to prepare for and nullify.
After being rested at the weekend, several key stalwarts are back in coach Ernesto Valverde’s squad, as seen in the club’s tweet below.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Gerard Pique were all absent in the draw with Huesca, but they all return for this crunch showdown.
Ousmane Dembele also gets the nod as he continues his recovery from an injury, and after featuring on Saturday, the Frenchman is ready to provide Valverde with another key option in attack to pose a different threat to the Red Devils.
The 21-year-old recovered to make the bench in the first leg, but having now got minutes under his belt after missing four consecutive La Liga games with a muscle injury, he’ll hope to play a more prominent role.
Based on the reaction below, it’s fair to say that many Barcelona fans are delighted to have him return to the fold, and they’ll hope that he can prove to be decisive to seal their place in the semi-finals having bagged 14 goals and eight assists in 36 games so far this season.
It’s a strong squad for Barcelona and Valverde, and few will go against them securing the result they need to advance.

Read more »

at April 14, 2019 0

LIONEL MESSI will be fit for Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final second leg with Manchester United despite taking a blow from Chris Smalling.

Messi was left bloodied and bruised after the United defender clattered into him during the first leg at Old Trafford.
That was after the Argentinian had set up Luis Suarez to head in, via a deflection off Luke Shaw, as Barcelona earned a crucial 1-0 lead to take back to the Nou Camp.
But the blow left Messi looking out of sorts, and he failed to have his usual impact for the rest of the game.
Messi was left out as Barcelona faced Huesca in La Liga on Saturday, with a number of other stars rested.
But Barca boss Ernesto Valverde has revealed Messi has recovered from his clash with Smalling.
“I spoke to him and he is fine, but it was a hard knock,” Valverde said.
“He wasn’t feeling good the day after nor during the rest of the match.
“It was like a truck had run over him.”
Manchester United ace Smalling caught Messi in the face with an arm as the two challenged for an aerial ball.
And the duo spoke after the game, with no hard feelings between the pair.
“Yeah, we spoke after,” Smalling said. “I didn’t realize at the time actually that I caught him like that.
“But, after the game we just had a brief chat, shook and hands and he said ‘yeah, it was an accident’.
“[I spoke to] Suarez after as well. We had a good tussle and he just shook my hand after and we said good luck.
“It’s nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there’s full respect after the game.

We started sloppy and a bit nervous. After their goal we settled and played well.
"We had very good individual performances in midfield. At times it felt like a proper United team - the crowd were behind us, we got out wide and got crosses in.
"We didn't start great, but it was a great goal and movement from Messi and Suarez but they're fortunate it comes off Luke Shaw.
“It's a blow but we settled well. We're still in this tie."

Read more »

at April 13, 2019 0

LIONEL MESSI holds no ill feeling towards Chris Smalling after the Manchester United defender left him bloodied and bruised at Old Trafford - insisting he KNEW it was an accident.

Smalling caught the Barcelona star in the face with his arm as the two challenged for an aerial ball in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Messi was unusually quiet but still managed to have the last laugh as he played a key role in the only goal of the game that saw Luke Shaw turn past into his own net.
It was a feisty affair between two European heavyweights and Smalling was involved in incidents with both Messi and his Barca team-mate Luis Suarez.
However, he insists there is no problem between the players and revealed they discussed it after the game.
“Yeah, we spoke after,” Smalling said. “I didn’t realize at the time actually that I caught him like that.
“But, after the game we just had a brief chat, shook and hands and he said ‘yeah, it was an accident’.
“[I spoke to] Suarez after as well. We had a good tussle and he just shook my hand after and we said good luck.
“It’s nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there’s full respect after the game.
Ultimately you’re just trying to do your best and enjoy the game.”
United will go into the second leg next Tuesday as big underdogs as they need to score at least once at the Nou Camp.
However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes there were positives to take from a game in which United was not overawed by one of the favorites to win the competition outright.
"There were pluses and negatives,” the Norwegian said.

We started sloppy and a bit nervous. After their goal we settled and played well.
"We had very good individual performances in midfield. At times it felt like a proper United team - the crowd were behind us, we got out wide and got crosses in.
"We didn't start great, but it was a great goal and movement from Messi and Suarez but they're fortunate it comes off Luke Shaw.
“It's a blow but we settled well. We're still in this tie."
Read more »

at April 12, 2019 0

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer muttered just eight words to Lionel Messi after the Argentine laid on the goal which succumbed United to a 1-0 home loss against Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Messi was silenced for most of the game at Old Trafford, largely due to a bloody nose which the forward sustained after a reckless aerial challenge from behind by Chris Smalling.
Barcelona’s talisman had to leave the field for treatment before returning with blood somehow smeared around his eye, but the bloodied magician’s work had already been done.
After untypically miss controlling an incisive chipped pass from Sergio Busquets, Messi curled a pinpoint cross to Luis Suarez at the back post and Manchester United’s old foe headed into Luke Shaw, whose torso diverted the ball in.
Solskjaer was seen talking with Messi after the final whistle but the United manager brushed off the significance of the chat.
Asked what he said to Messi, Solskjaer replied: "'All the best and see you next week'. That's it."
United now face the daunting task of overturning the deficit at the Nou Camp next Tuesday, where Barcelona have not lost in the competition since September 2013.
United thwarted Barcelona well for the majority of the game but lacked potency in the final third.
Doing the same, especially to Messi, in Catalonia next week will be a different kettle of fish, but Solskjaer was pleased with how his team coped last night.

Read more »

at April 11, 2019 1

Man Utd lost to Barcelona 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford but still have a hope of progressing.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was coy about his post-match discussion with Barcelona captain Lionel Messi following Manchester United's Champions League defeat.

Messi was somewhat subdued in his second appearance at Old Trafford, where he was left with a bloodied nose following a robust first-half challenge from Chris Smalling. At his post-match press conference, Solskjaer - who exchanged pleasantries with the officials on the pitch at full-time - was asked what he said to Messi.
"All the best and see you next week," Solskjaer said. "That's it."
He added to BT Sport: “He’s a fantastic player. We did as well as we could against him. We kept our shape well. It could have gone both ways. We didn’t hit the target and that’s one of the disappointing things. We’ll go there with work to be done but we will create chances."
United must win at Camp Nou for the first time next week if they are to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions League. Luke Shaw's 12th-minute own goal separated the sides in a tepid encounter at Old Trafford as United failed to score in their fourth home European match out of five this season.
Diogo Dalot had United's outstanding chance with a free header at the far post but United was otherwise reduced to half-chances. Having seen his team fail to register an effort on target, Solskjaer does not anticipate a glut of opportunities to overturn the deficit at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
We need to hit the target," Solskjaer stressed. "We created some opportunities, Rashy had a volley after a cross was punched out, Diogo had a great chance at the back post, so we have to take our chances, we have to be very effective and efficient over there. READ MORE

Read more »

at April 10, 2019 0

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to give names. The Luso wants a winning project at the Juventus of Turin, surrounded by stars. The ones you have, that stay, and the ones that are missing, that arrive this summer.
In this sense, there are already up to three players on the table. The first is Ivan Rakitic, crack of Barca, which will hear offers. Although Valverde considers him untouchable, the signing of Frenkie de Jong, the emergence of Arthur and the age of Croatian, 30 years, invites to study options.
The 'Vecchia Signora' is very interested in getting the '4' culé, which could fill the gap left by Blaise Matuidi, with offers from China. CR7 has approved the arrival of the ex of Sevilla, which he sees as an ideal complement for Miralem Pjanic in the midfield.
Two other stars are Raphaël Varane and Marcelo, whom he knows perfectly well during his stay at Real Madrid. The departure of both of the Santiago Bernabéu is no chimera and Florentino Pérez will negotiate with them.
Zinedine Zidane wanted to retain both, but, after seeing the terrible level in which they are, has given way to allow their goodbye. Yes, as long as you receive a millionaire.
 
The agreement between Marcelo and Juve has been closed for months. 40 million more variables are the 'bianconera' offer. Very tempting, considering the age of the Brazilian and his bad time.
But Ronaldo wants to reconnect with the one who is his best friend in the world of football and who is convinced that he will recover his best version. He is your best partner both on and off the turf and knows him better than anyone else. He has no doubt that it will be a 'top' signing.
Varane, on the other hand, wants to leave Chamartín, where he has been in seven seasons in which he has won absolutely everything. He needs, at almost 26 years of age, new challenges and a new environment.
The Frenchman has also lowered his benefits, but he will ask for almost 100 kilos. A madness that from Turin they hope to reduce, until, at least, the 60.
Massimiliano Allegri is in love with the Gaul and has given the OK. Cristiano knows that Juventus need to rejuvenate the defense since the backbone, Chiellini, Bonucci, and Barzagli, is in their thirties and they have a few years left.
The Italians come with everything.
Read more »

at April 10, 2019 0

Manchester United vs Barcelona

The Champions League quarterfinal action continues on Wednesday with Man United taking on Barcelona.
Man United are through to the final eight following an incredible win at PSG in the last round.
Can Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side overcome Barcelona over 180 minutes?
That will prove a tough ask, as Barcelona are flying at the moment.
The Catalans could end up winning the treble this season, as they are on course to win La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

No Anthony Martial: Man United likely XI

The Manchester Evening News have gone about guessing at how Man United may line-up at Old Trafford tonight.
Solskjaer is expected to throw caution to the wind playing a 4-3-3 formation.
Can Man United really go toe-to-toe with Barca and win?
According to M.E.N, Anthony Martial will be omitted from the starting XI.
Marcus Rashford is tipped to play out wide, while Romelu Lukaku may start through the middle.
Jesse Lingard will be deployed in the attacking right forward role.
In midfield, M.E.N predicts that Fred will get the nod at kick-off. Alternatively, Nemanja Matic could start in that role instead. Elsewhere, Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba will be picked in the XI.  READ MORE

No Ousmane Dembele: Barcelona likely XI

Although he returned to first-team training last week, Ousmane Dembele isn’t expected to line-up in Barcelona’s XI.
That’s according to the Times, who predicts that Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, and Philippe Coutinho will lead the Spanish attack.
Barcelona’s midfield three is predicted to be Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Arthur.
At the back, French centre-half Clement Lenglet is tipped to start alongside Gerard Pique. READ MORE
Read more »
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)