Messi: “I feel fine”

Barcelona (FCB).- The day after a serious shock in the Benfica match, Leo Messi has described how he felt in the 84th minute, when he had to be stretchered off the pitch. “When I first felt the pain, I imagined the worst – that I’d be out for months. After tests and learning that it is not a long-term injury, I’m feeling a lot better”. Describing the action, in which he stumbled against the keeper but still carried on trying to score, he said “I thought it might be the last ball I’d touch for a long time and I wanted to go for it”.

Speaking at a promotional event for Turkish Airlines, Messi went on to say that “It was just a knock and I’m much better today … I don’t know if I’ll be able to play on Sunday, it depends on how things develop”. But even he does miss the game, “nobody will notice, because we’ve got plenty of players … I am hugely grateful for all the shows of affection from the fans and Barça. These things make me very happy”.

Opinion unchanged

Last night’s events have not made Leo Messi reconsider whether it is a good idea for him to play in every game. “I still think the same thing. That could have happened in training or any other game. Whenever you take to the field there is a certain element of risk.” As for having Müller’s record so close in his sights, he said “beating it is not an obsession. It would obviously be nice because it’s such an old record and I’m so close, but I’m not overly worried about it”.

Messi and Kobe Bryant are the icons of a new Turkish Airlines campaign called ‘Fly with the Best’. The Barça and Lakers stars have recorded a commercial that will be released shortly.

Defence of Catalan

Leo Messi followed the Club and manager Tito Vilanova by speaking in defence of the Catalan language and the model of linguistic immersion. "Ever since I got here, I have studied and grown up with Catalan and I’ve never had the slightest problem. You have to add not take away, and the more languages people know the better”.