Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde coy on Lionel Messi involvement against Tottenham

Sport360 staff 07:57 11/12/2018
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  • Ernesto Valverde has promised changes to his Barcelona squad to face Tottenham on Tuesday night, with Lionel Messi among those who may be rested.

    The La Liga champions are already through to the knockout stages as group winners and will not risk key stars due to injury.

    Valverde was not so open over whether Lionel Messi will play against Spurs, who have to match Inter Milan’s result against PSV to join the Spanish club in the last 16.

    Inter will have one eye on Barca’s selection and whether Messi, who scored twice at Wembley in the return fixture, makes the teamsheet, but Valverde said the Serie A side can have no complaints if the maestro is dropped.

    “There are sure to be rotations tomorrow, we just had a big game on Saturday,” Valverde told his pre-match press conference. “Every game is an opportunity to show what you’re capable of doing.

    “It does not escape me that a player can be given respite because we played an important game (at the weekend).

    “After being without him [Messi] for several games I don’t know if we’ll have him out there for two games in three days. But Luis Suarez is definitely not going to play.”

    “The important thing is the players who come out of the dressing room are motivated and ready to play. They’re facing a team that has everything riding on the line.

    “There’s nothing to fear but it’s not that different from the match at Wembley. Players will have to play their best to win tomorrow and I have no doubt about that.”

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