Lionel Messi admits Barcelona are still adapting to Tata Martino’s new style of play and different methods on the training ground.
Barcelona lost 3-2 to Valencia on Saturday to end a run of 31 games without a league defeat at home, and while the result seems surprising, given the level of Barcelona’s performance when the final whistle arrived there was an air of resignation around the Nou Camp.
All three of the goals conceded – especially in allowing 5ft 4ins Pablo Piatti to score a header – owed to individual errors but there was also a clear breakdown in Barca’s system.
Too often Valencia midfielders Sofiane Feghouli and Dani Parejo found themselves breaking into space between the lines of defence and midfield, while at the other end Barca were uncharacteristically listless and after Paco Alcacer scored a third for Valencia, bar a jinking Messi run and shot, offered little in the final 20 minutes.
Since taking over from Tito Vilanova in July due to the 45-yearold’s cancer battle, former Newell’s Old Boys coach Martino has tried to develop Barca’s tiki-taka approach, honed under Pep Guardiola, into a more direct, forceful style. But while results have up to now been encouraging, the evidence on Saturday suggests the Argentine still has a long way to go before stamping his own authority on the squad.
Messi, who did convert a second half penalty for his first La Liga goal since September, said: “There have been many differences in the way Tata has been coaching us, in terms of instructions before the match and on the training ground.
“Of course, every trainer is completely different and they have their own way of doing things. I had many years of working with Tito and so was used to him. But Tata was coming from outside the club so it has been a completely new way of thinking and he has changed the way we have trained. It was a bad day (against Valencia) but it takes time.”
The defeat was the fifth game in a row the Argentine has managed to complete 90 minutes since he returned from a hamstring injury on January 8. Messi’s penalty was his 15th goal of the season and ended a run of eight league games without scoring, although he is still to find the target from open play and his radar was slightly off against Los Che with only three of his eight shots working the goalkeeper.
While he was not overly impressed with his own performance and “sad” at the result, Messi admits he is delighted to be back on the field and that his injury is now behind him.
He added: “Overall I am feeling well. I am happy I’ve been able to play several games in a row. When I got injured it was not good for me mentally but now I am able to complete 90 minutes so I am okay. I have been able to forget about the injury.
“In terms of scoring the goal, it is difficult to put into words but I was just delighted to see so many people jumping up and down and happiness in the stadium.”
Messi was yesterday announced as Gillette’s new global ambassador, joining an impressive roster that also includes Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer, in a year that could define his career and overall legacy within the game.
The Argentine will turn 27 during the World Cup in Brazil and a tournament in his home continent, during what could be his peak years as a professional, represents his best ever chance to win the famous trophy and certify his place among the all-time elite.
There is also the added pressure and expectation that comes with it but Messi is confident Argentina are growing in stature under manager Alejandro Sabella and, like their star forward, are ready to peak this summer.
He said: “I want to win the World Cup. It is a dream for me, for the team and for the whole country. We are growing as a squad and we are very enthusiastic about our chances in Brazil.
“There are still certain things that need to be put in place but we have a good group of players that is always getting better. I think it would be very possible to play in the final.
“To have the opportunity, not only of playing in a World Cup, but of winning one is incredible, especially as it is not something Argentina have managed to do for quite some time now. It is a very special time for everybody involved.”
