‘Camp Nou would applaud Ronaldo’

Former Barcelona forward Hristo Stoichkov believes the Real Madrid fans should applaud Lionel Messi if he sets a new League goals record.

Barca travel to Real Madrid tomorrow for the first Clasico of the season and the Bulgarian has spoken at length to AS.

Stoichkov touched on a number of Barca issues, including Luis Suarez and what he sees as the key to winning, for either side.

“Barcelona are calmer than Madrid. They haven’t conceded and Madrid score a lot…it will be a close game,” Stoichkov said.

“Whoever is less nervous will win.”

 “Suarez is a very important factor for Barca. You can’t pressure Luis Enrique to play him,” he said.

“He already knows whether or not he’ll play. It’s a plus for Barca to have Suarez hungry and ready to return.

“Enrique is calm because he knows how things work. They’re talking about Suarez to try and destabilise the team.

“Barca haven’t conceded a goal. Why not talk about this?

“Why wouldn’t they applaud Messi? Someone will. Remember when Ronaldinho scored twice, the fans rose to applaud. These things happen in football, like when Camp Nou rose to applaud Emiliano Butragueno.

“Messi is mythical and if you can’t applaud a myth then that’s arrogance. You can’t see beyond your team. I think Camp Nou would applaud Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Tags Clasico Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Stoichkov
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