Lionel Messi has praised Ernesto Valverde for his ‘clear’ leadership and warned Barcelona’s rivals that they are out “to win everything”.
Valverde has led Barca to the top of La Liga without a defeat after 20 games and into the Copa del Rey semi-finals and Champions League last 16, earning the praise of his talisman.
“Luckily things are going well and we had a difficult test against Espanyol,” Messi said at a launch for football boots, reports Sport.
“I’m happy with how things are going, even if there’s a lot of the season left. Our objective? It’s the same one that we have every season: to win everything.
“Yerry Mina? Masche left and it’s only fair that another centre-back came in to replace him. I’m happy that he’s with us.
“Valverde? He was clear from the start, he said what he wanted and we adapted to it. It wasn’t very different from what we were already doing.
“We became stronger defensively, and up top we have some top players that can decide games.
“Rotation? I’m taking it normally and calmly. The Coach decides. We talk about it and I have no problem rotating, like my teammates.”
