Monday 22 April 2013

Messi must play in the semifinal, insists Roura

Barcelona assistant Jordi Roura says it is "important" that Lionel Messi is available against Bayern Munich.


The Argentina international has been struggling with a thigh injury, suffered in the club's quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, in recent weeks and the 45-year-old admits he may not feature against the Bundesliga champions.

"There’s no doubt that a player of Leo’s quality has an effect on the way on the way you attack," the 45-year-old told a press conference.

"If, unfortunately, he can’t play we have won important games without him. But there is no doubt that it is important for Leo to play against Bayern.

"I can’t say for sure how Messi’s going to be tomorrow. We’ll see how he feels today in training, we’ll listen to the doctors and then we’ll decide. If he’s good then we can count on him."

The Blaugrana saw off AC Milan in the last 16 and PSG in the quarter-finals to set up Tuesday's last four clash with the Bavarians and Roura is expecting a close encounter very different to their recent victories in the competition.

"Every game, every victory is different. This will be a very tight semi-final. It will be won with the small things, the details. We will look to play another extraordinary game like we did at home against Milan," he continued, referring to Barca's second-leg 4-0 win after the 0-2 loss from the first leg.

"We’re really looking forward to it. It’s a game everybody wants to watch. We’re very happy and we’ll do everything we can to get through.

"It's going to be a party, without a doubt, we are going to play with a high intensity, and the team that is able to impose their system and style will have many advantages.

"We'll try to impose our features to control the game. But we know the potential of Bayern
."

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