Following medical attention, the Argentina star went back on, but two minutes later asked to be replaced in the eighth after carefully trotting around and testing his leg with a pair of passes. “I hope we will get the best out of him in the next few weeks”.
Advertisement
Video images then emerged of Messi limping heavily as he left hospital after undergoing tests.
Barcelona won the match 2-1, with Luis Suárez scoring once in each half. Enrique talked about the injury, and while his obviosuly saddened by it, he doesn’t think it will be catastrophic to the team.
“He’s a focal point of the team for us and helps us greatly in defence”.
Last time, the Argentine had to sit out for nine straight games following a muscle injury on November 10 during a league match against Betis during the 2013-2014 season. The 28-year-old will also miss four World Cup qualifiers for Argentina which includes the ties against Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia and Brazil.
Bayern Munich Guardiola and Messi always had a special relationship following their glory days at the Camp Nou and the Spaniard was quick to wish his former player a speedy recovery.
He is the all-time highest scorer for Barcelona and has scored more goals in the Spanish league than anyone.
Barcelona were unable to add to their squad during the summer transfer window due to a Federation Internationale de Football Association ban, but Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal will be allowed to play for them from January. Barcelona have enviable strength in depth in attacking positions, however, and boss Luis Enrique insists that it is now up to the team to compensate for his absence. “We have 100 percent faith in ourselves and together we can do it”.
Rakitic has refused to play down the loss of the forward, but has insisted that the Catalan club will “fight together” to get through the period without the 28-year-old.
Advertisement
“Obviously, when it is Leo Messi even more so for the weight he carries amongst our group”.
