Messi unconcerned by La Liga record as Barca welcome back Suarez

Andy West 14:09 23/10/2014
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  • Team comes first: Barcelona star Lionel Messi is closing in on becoming La Liga's record scorer.

    Barcelona star Lionel Messi has insisted personal records are secondary to the achievements of his team as he starts to look forward to Saturday’s Clasico trip to Real Madrid.

    Seven league goals this season have taken Messi’s overall La Liga tally to 250 – an astonishing figure for a 27-year-old and just one goal short of levelling the all-time record of Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra.

    Two goals on Saturday would see Messi make history by setting a new Spanish football record in the home of his team’s biggest enemy, but he claimed points are more important than personal prestige.

    “The important thing is to win there, not to beat Zarra’s record,” said the Argentine. “We will go there to do our best and to try and win.”

    Victory would give Barca a seven-point advantage over Madrid in the title race, but Messi downplayed the significance of the game, adding: “It will not decide anything, there is a lot of time left in the league, but we will try and win and play well.”

    Tuesday’s victory over Ajax contained yet another connection between Messi and Neymar, who swept home the early opening goal after being set up by a pass from the Argentine.

    Confirming the impression that the duo are forming a much better on-pitch relationship after a slow first season together, Messi said: “We contributed goals to the team and every time we go out on to the pitch our understanding of each other gets better.”

    And Messi is now eagerly anticipating striking up an on-pitch relationship with another South American star, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, who is set to make his debut at the Bernabeu.

    “We are really looking forward to the arrival of Suarez into the team,” said Messi. “He has had a hard time not being able to get out on to the pitch.”

    Barca legend Johan Cruyff has backed Suarez to start at the Bernabeu despite lacking match fitness and familiarity with his new team-mates at the end of a four-month suspension.

    The question of whether Suarez will be named in the starting line-up or on the bench is generating plenty of debate, but Cruyff – widely regarded as one of the greatest players and coaches in the Nou Camp club’s history – believes there should be little doubt.

    “Why can’t he play? Is he injured?” the Dutchman asked rhetorically. “If the boy is fit, then there is no reason why he wouldn’t play.”

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