Luis Enrique is keeping Real Madrid guessing over whether Lionel Messi will start Saturday night’s Clasico, claiming he will make a late decision over the Argentine’s fitness before kick-off.
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Messi has been out of action since September 26 with a knee injury sustained in a La Liga match against Las Palmas, but resumed full training this week to give himself a chance of making the first XI for the match in the Bernabeu.
But Enrique, never known for his willingness to divulge his plans for the team, was resolute in his determination to avoid giving any clues over whether Messi will start or be restricted to the bench.
“I will speak to him and then we will make the decision an hour before the game. It depends how he feels,” Enrique said. “Nobody knows better than the player himself exactly how he is feeling.
“Of course I would prefer him to play, but whether or not he starts at least he is available. That’s the best news for us.”
Barca have been in good form without Messi, winning their last three games without conceding, but youngsters Munir El Haddadi and Sandro have badly struggled to fill the place of the Argentine on the right side of the team’s three-man forward line.
If Messi really is fully fit as the Barca camp have claimed, the prospect of him being left on the bench for a game of Saturday’s magnitude is close to unthinkable – especially considering his renowned determination to play as many minutes as possible. But Enrique admitted that it will be impossible for Messi to hit peak fitness after missing nearly two months of action.
Luis Enrique: “Whether Messi plays or not, the great news is that he is fit again” #FCBlive #FCB pic.twitter.com/royuC5KllC
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 20, 2015
He added: “It’s logical that he isn’t at one hundred percent, but since he re-joined the group he has looked good.”
Another player battling for fitness is midfielder Ivan Rakitic, who has been doubtful for the game since suffering a calf strain in a Champions League clash with BATE Borisov earlier this month.
And Enrique claimed the classy Croatian is also in contention to start, adding: “He’s in the same position as Messi, although he hasn’t been out for as long. He has trained and looked good.”
Meanwhile, security will be increased for Saturday night’s game in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris a week ago. At least 1,000 police will be present both inside and around the Bernabeu in Spain’s capital.
