FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.11.2009 16:10

Messi: "I have never played anywhere so cold"

Vanessa Forns

Lionel Messi has said that against Rubin Kazan, Barça will need to get over the extreme cold and play their typical football to ensure a good result. But he did admit “I have never played anywhere so cold”.

The extreme cold in what is generally considered Russia’s third capital is the definite protagonist of FC Barcelona’s trip to Kazan. Although he does admit that "the Russian winter will be reflected in the game ", Messi considers that the key to victory revolves around “not thinking about it … we have to go out onto the pitch as we always do, and try to impose our style of playing and look for a good result.”

"We shouldn’t think about it"

This is going to be the coldest game of football the Argentinian has ever played in, but he hopes "it has no affect on the team at all … I have never played anywhere so cold. I hope it doesn’t show, and the way to do that is simply not to think about it. The important thing is to play a good game” he added.

Taking chances

But aside from the climatic conditions and the famous Rubin Kazan victory in the game played at the Camp Nou, Messi knows that a win is essential to get everybody "feeling a little bit more relaxed" about the situation in Group F. He also believes the players “need a bit more luck than they had in the home fixture … in Barcelona we had a great game and had much more chances to score. But we just didn’t get much luck in front of goal. Let’s hope tomorrow we get to put some of them away.” But whatever happens, he added that “this game is not a final."

Rubin Kazan, a great side

Asked about the squad from the Tatar city, he observed that “they are a great side … Rubin Kazan have some top quality players, they’re very fast on the counter attack and also defend well".

Close stuff in the Champions League

Asked whether, after losing at the Camp Nou to Rubin Kazan, Josep Guardiola’s side will be stepping into the Centralniy Stadium with a certain dose of extra energy, Messi made it clear that "we are in the Champions League, a competition where no team is inferior to any other, where everything is very close. Now the important thing is to win here, nothing more ".