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Barcelona's Javier Mascherano dismisses suggestion that Lionel Messi needs a rest
The versatile former Liverpool midfielder is bemused by Mario Kempes' claim that the Catalans' talismanic No.10 is playing poorly of late and is in need of a break
6 Feb 2012 21:40:00
By Mark Doyle
Getty Images
Javier Mascherano does not believe that Lionel Messi's performances for Barcelona have dropped a level in recent weeks or that his team-mate is in need of a rest.
Argentine legend Mario Kempes made headlines when he suggested that Messi has not been at his best of late and could do with a holiday soon.
However, Mascherano does not feel that the Catalans' talismanic No.10, who plays in nearly every single game for Pep Guardiola's side, is showing any signs of fatigue.
"He scored the other day [against Real Sociedad] and he looks fine to me,” the former Liverpool man told reporters on Monday.
“The coach decides how much he needs to play. He [Messi] helps us a lot. For the matter of rest, we have physios and a coach who take charge of that.
“He is a player who prefers playing to training. Every physique is different. If he plays every match, it's because he's in the condition to do so."
Mascherano was also keen to heap praise on Barcelona defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, labelling the pair as "the best centre-back pairing in the world".
"Both of them are doing well. Puyol has been impeccable in recent matches and Gerard is a great player too.
"They complement each other perfectly ... It's as if they had played together all their lives."
Mascherano will be hoping to keep his place in the Barcelona starting line-up when the Blaugrana host Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
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Argentine legend Mario Kempes made headlines when he suggested that Messi has not been at his best of late and could do with a holiday soon.
However, Mascherano does not feel that the Catalans' talismanic No.10, who plays in nearly every single game for Pep Guardiola's side, is showing any signs of fatigue.
"He scored the other day [against Real Sociedad] and he looks fine to me,” the former Liverpool man told reporters on Monday.
“The coach decides how much he needs to play. He [Messi] helps us a lot. For the matter of rest, we have physios and a coach who take charge of that.
“He is a player who prefers playing to training. Every physique is different. If he plays every match, it's because he's in the condition to do so."
Mascherano was also keen to heap praise on Barcelona defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, labelling the pair as "the best centre-back pairing in the world".
"Both of them are doing well. Puyol has been impeccable in recent matches and Gerard is a great player too.
"They complement each other perfectly ... It's as if they had played together all their lives."
Mascherano will be hoping to keep his place in the Barcelona starting line-up when the Blaugrana host Valencia in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
Starting in November and continuing through to the middle of February, Goal.com is publishing exclusive extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated new book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. The last extract looked at how Barca suffered rare disappointment at the hands of Real Madrid in a gripping finale to last season's Copa del Rey. Don't miss it!
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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