Zizou: Barca worse without Messi

Zinedine Zidane believes Real Madrid can capitalise on Lionel Messi’s injury as Barcelona are “worse” without the Argentine.

Zidane was speaking ahead of Madrid’s trip to Las Palmas in La Liga on Saturday, where he was asked about Messi’s three-week layoff, plus what inspired Los Blancos’ turnaround in their 1-1 draw with Villarreal midweek.

“Whether we’re attacking or defending, we have important players,” the Coach remarked at a Press conference.

“We prepare for the match and set pieces. We know it’s an important weapon in every game.

“In a match, you always have to change things. We had 10 minutes to talk [at half-time against Villarreal] and say things, and I think we changed.

“I won’t say that our attitude in the first half wasn’t good, but we lacked intensity against a good rival.

“If you don’t put in intensity from the start, you encounter difficulties. The second part was different because we went into another gear.

“Are Barca worse without Messi? Yes. Well, worse is a word that I don’t like, but we all know that Messi is Messi.

“We know what he brings to Barcelona and it’s clear that without him, Barca will look different.”

However, Zidane was not prepared to discuss Filipe Luis’ Instagram post of a wound on his foot from a studded Luis Suarez tackle.

“I’m not going to get into these things. I have another mess in my head,” he added.

“I’ll say that it’s easy not to answer, but I won’t.”

Tags Lionel Messi Zinedine Zidane
La Liga - Club News