FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.03.2007 14:35

Messi shows modesty of a legend

Despite all the praise he has received for his performance against Madrid, Messi is as modest as ever. He insists that without the team he is nothing and is sorry his goals did not bring victory.

Leo Messi was the star of the ‘clásico’. Back from injury, he proved decisive yet again, not only with his famous piercing runs, but also with his goals. Not one, but three. And in injury time he sealed his hat trick to equalise a game that looked as good as lost. It was a dream return to the side, but Messi, as usual, responded to such praise with his typical modesty, “I am very pleased and calm about my performance” he said. “But it would have been nicer if we had won.”

When a journalist compared him to Diego Armando Maradona, Messi claimed he would be nothing it wasn’t for the team around him. “I always want to carry on learning and yesterday I was lucky enough to score three goals. I am part of the team, I would not score without them.”

Fine memory

The Argentinian recognises that the amazing game with Madrid was “his finest memory” until now, not just for the way he played, but also for the importance of the occasion. “It was a derby” he said. “And all derbies are remembered. Playing against Madrid is a special motivation, and even better when I managed to score three goals.”

It was a game to be remembered, and even better coming on the back of a prolonged. “I needed a game like that because I was coming back from injury” he said. “Before being injured I was doing well, but I wasn’t getting goals. I got the chances but didn’t put them away.”

Special celebrations

Speaking about his third goal, Messi was modest about the way he ran into the area and left Iván Helguera standing: “I tried to get past Helguera and it worked. Then I was faced by Casillas.” And he scored in the 91st minute, and with the Camp Nou roaring around him kissed the badge on his shirt. “I owe a lot to Barça for everything the club has done for me at all times, and because the people appreciate me and care for me.”

He had already celebrated two goals, after the first he raised his shirt to reveal another beneath bearing the words “Strength uncle”. He said he did it in hour of his uncle who has just lost his father”.

Up for League and Cup

Leo Messi did not feel his side had let the fans down against Madrid. “We were as good as in other games” he said. “Perhaps we were missing some luck yesterday because just when we were playing out best we had a man sent off. But we were always behind on the scoreboard and trying to draw, and we managed to do it.”

From now on, it is a question of collecting more points in the hunt for the league title. “We have to be on form to win the League and Cup” said Messi. “We need to make this work to make the fans happy.”