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Guardiola says Messi's injury status is uncertain
Source: Agencies |
November 24, 2009, Tuesday
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BARCELONA coach Pep Guardiola said that a decision on Lionel Messi's fitness for the Champions League match against Inter Milan will not be made until today.
Messi, who limped out of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao with a leg-muscle injury, was in the spotlight yesterday with the European champions facing a must-win match.
"Until tomorrow we won't know anything. But we're going to do everything we can so that he can be with us," said Guardiola, who fielded several questions about the 22-year-old midfielder's health.
Team doctors will evaluate Messi today ahead of the match against Inter. Guardiola added that striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not certain to return from a hamstring injury and his status would remain uncertain until Tuesday. Barcelona is also without Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure, who have swine flu.
"I don't know if Leo or Ibra will be there but we'll play with those we have," said Guardiola, who didn't hide his frustration with repeatedly fielding the same question about the Argentina forward. "I can't deny that we're talking about two important players but let's not forget that whatever we've achieved, we've achieved as a team. It doesn't matter who plays."
Inter leads Group F with six points, one better than Rubin Kazan and Barcelona, while Dynamo Kiev has four. Barcelona could be eliminated from the competition with a defeat should Rubin win the other match in the group. Guardiola also has to keep Sunday's derby match against Real Madrid in mind after his team dropped one point behind its bitter rival in the league standings over the weekend.
"I sincerely think we will win," Guardiola said. "He's the world's best and without him of course we lose qualities just as the Bulls lost out when (Michael) Jordan didn't play or the Lakers when (Kobe) Bryant couldn't. But if we lose it won't be because Messi isn't on the field but because we didn't do things right."
Messi, who limped out of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao with a leg-muscle injury, was in the spotlight yesterday with the European champions facing a must-win match.
"Until tomorrow we won't know anything. But we're going to do everything we can so that he can be with us," said Guardiola, who fielded several questions about the 22-year-old midfielder's health.
Team doctors will evaluate Messi today ahead of the match against Inter. Guardiola added that striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not certain to return from a hamstring injury and his status would remain uncertain until Tuesday. Barcelona is also without Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure, who have swine flu.
"I don't know if Leo or Ibra will be there but we'll play with those we have," said Guardiola, who didn't hide his frustration with repeatedly fielding the same question about the Argentina forward. "I can't deny that we're talking about two important players but let's not forget that whatever we've achieved, we've achieved as a team. It doesn't matter who plays."
Inter leads Group F with six points, one better than Rubin Kazan and Barcelona, while Dynamo Kiev has four. Barcelona could be eliminated from the competition with a defeat should Rubin win the other match in the group. Guardiola also has to keep Sunday's derby match against Real Madrid in mind after his team dropped one point behind its bitter rival in the league standings over the weekend.
"I sincerely think we will win," Guardiola said. "He's the world's best and without him of course we lose qualities just as the Bulls lost out when (Michael) Jordan didn't play or the Lakers when (Kobe) Bryant couldn't. But if we lose it won't be because Messi isn't on the field but because we didn't do things right."
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