Leo Messi :"My injury was nothing strange"

Barcelona star Lionel Messi held his most detailed interview with Argentine sports publication Olé, clarifying what he suggested were a lot of untruths and speculation, about his injury problems.
 

Q:Are you sad, angered or worried about the injury?

“I’m sad because I wasn’t expecting it and also angry, because it’s another injury just after the other. I’m not worried though, seriously. This injury happened because it happened. There is nothing strange about it or any reason to go looking for something to blame. A blow, a bad movement and I can get injured. That’s all.”


Q:If you look back, would you have changed anything? Would you play less matches or friendlies, between Barcelona and your other commitments? Don’t you need to rest more a year before the World Cup?

“No, not at all. It’s not good being injured, but I wouldn’t have changed absolutely anything. This injury just happened. I’m not the only one who plays lots of games throughout the season. These things could happen to anyone that’s playing in La Liga. As for the other games, they’re just things that people are saying. The games during the holidays are just something to enjoy, without any pressure. We get together, play and help social causes. I enjoy them.”

Q:Did you know much the fans here were panicking when they saw you were out injured? In Argentina it’s headline news, generating fear.

“I don’t think it’s something to be too worried about, though it’s nice to think that if the people are worried, it’s one way they show their appreciation. That’s why I thanked them all in my Facebook account.”

Q:Will this injury change your training plans up until the World Cup?

“No, I’m not doing anything differently because of the injury. I’m going to carry on with the same plan that had been set out at the start of the season. There’s no need to look for anything unusual in that.”

Q:Do you have any worries that it’s not long to go until Brazil 2014 and that you’ll have to be ready?

“Of course the World Cup is coming up, but I don’t have to change anything. When the time comes, I’m going to be training for a competition that’s really important.”

Q:You’re injury has raised many points, looking for the causes that it has been repeated. Is it true that at Barcelona, you’ve changed your diet and physiotherapy regime? Juanjo Brau doesn’t follow you everywhere any more?

“These are all things that they (the media) say without knowing anything. None of it is true. My diet is the same as always. They’ve invented lots of things… I do the same things as always and I started pre-season at my ideal weight, ready for the start of the season, feeling well. I’m not going to change anything that has gone well for me over recent years.”

Q:And the physiotherapist (Juanjo Brau)? He was always in your shadow, wasn’t he?

“So that everyone knows: Juanjo remains a physiotherapist at Barcelona and with even more responsibility as the head (of physiotherapy). This has been a promotion for him in his personal life and I’m not going to say no to him doing that or get in the way of that possibility for him.”

Q:Is it true that an Argentine specialist is going to travel to be with you?

“No. Who said that? Yes, there are going to be some that will come from the Argentina national team to see me and see how well the injury is progressing. I have to repeat: There’s nothing strange going on.”

Q:Do you not think you need to go elsewhere for specialist examinations to look at why you’ve had continuous muscular problems since April?

“No. Say whatever you like, but my injury was nothing strange.”

Q:Is it your understanding though, that there are games in which you don’t need to be played for the full ninety minutes? Are you self-critical in this respect?

“Whilst I’m feeling good, I’ll play whatever is needed. I don’t have to impose limits on myself. I know that when the manager wants to take me off, he substitutes me and there’s no worries. There’s no need to look for things that don’t exist. All the things they say afterwards, aren’t true…”

Q:Are you going to Argentina to recover, partly to avoid anxiety? The plan is to get back on the pitch for the start of 2014 isn’t it?

“The truth is, I don’t know if I’m going to go (to Argentina), but we’re looking into it. The plan is to resume playing when my body tells me it’s fine.”