Javier Mascherano doesn’t want to discuss Lionel Messi but echoed his Barcelona teammate, insisting La Blaugrana retain their self-belief.
Messi in a Facebook post called on Barca to remain confident after a drop in form ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, and Masche was asked at a Press conference about his teammate.
“He’s showed many times who he is and it bothers me to always talk about it,” he replied, AS reports.
“We haven’t stopped believing but you have to support your words with facts. We’ll try to do that on the pitch.
“We’ve all played a lot but there are games you dream of playing. There are nights you never want to end. You have to enjoy everything and think of what you want to do.”
Mascherano was more willing to discuss another compatriot, Atletico Coach Diego Simeone, and said that past meetings between the teams aren’t all that relevant.
“We’re not the same team and neither are they. Every season is different. We’ll approach the game in the best way possible,” he promised.
“We have no doubts, and we believe increasingly in what we’ve achieved. We’ll continue along the same path. We want the team to be what we’ve always been.
“Everything Simeone does at Atletico, he does well. That’s why they’ve been competitive for so long. You have to have a lot of respect for them.
“We are two teams with different ideas. I hope we’re better so we can progress to the semi-finals. We respect the Atleti fans, who always encourage their players a lot.”
