FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.08.2009 21:48

"We want to win it all again"

Jordi Clos

Lionel Messi is clearly enjoying the trip to the United States and believes that the squad has the same desire and hope as they did last term when the treble was won.

After being instrumental in the 0-4 victory against Seattle Sounders, the Argentinian spoke the media and made no secret of the fact that he is feeling very ambitious ahead of the campaign. "We want to win everything again," he said. "We have the same hopes and dreams. But we will have to go game-by-game, just as we did last season, because that served us well."

Slowly but surely

Given the patient outlook, Messi did not want to look beyond the first phase of the season. "We have only just started and now is not the time to begin looking forward to the treble or the Champions League as they are both very difficult," he explained. Winning the Ballon d'Or is something that the star is often asked about, but he again played down the emphasis of individual honours. "I have always said that the team is more important," he stated. "Last season we were fortunate to win everything and this time we will go for the same, but calmly."

Going nowhere

Asked about plans to improve his contract with the club, Messi was clear: "I have no problem and have always said that I will not leave this club," he said. "I just want to focus on playing football." Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arrival has also enabled the spotlight to be taken off the Argentinian and he is pleased the Swede joined: "With him the team will be even stronger because his strengths are his stature and his shooting," he commented. "But nobody should forget how spectacular Samuel [Eto'o] was here."