Messi: We continue to believe in ourselves!
Lionel Messi says Barcelona will continue to believe in themselves ahead of today’s UEFA Champions League cracker against Atletico Madrid, despite back-to-back La Liga defeats.
Barca have lost to Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in their last two league matches, while a 2-2 draw with Villarreal makes it a three-match winless run for the leaders.
The defending champions’ lead at the summit has been cut to three points as a result, with Atletico Madrid in increasingly close pursuit.
However, Atletico are the opposition today as European champions Barca look to turn their 2-1 first-leg advantage into a passage to the Champions League semi-finals.
And Messi insists Barca will not allow their season to collapse, posting on Facebook: “Our mindset remains the same. We work hard all year to have a chance of winning trophies at the end of the season.
“We continue to believe in ourselves.”
Barca still remain on course to retain the treble they won last season, with Sevilla awaiting in next month’s Copa del Rey final.
Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp hopes to face ‘hard decisions’ selecting a team for the second leg of Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, as Daniel Sturridge vies with Divock Origi for a place in the starting XI.
Origi was in the line-up from kick-off and scored as Liverpool earned a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg at Signal Iduna Park last week, a match that saw Klopp make an emotional return to the club where he won the Bundesliga twice as head coach.
Sturridge replaced Origi in the first team and also hit the back of the net as Stoke City were beaten 4-1 at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.
But Origi threatened to steal the show, replacing Sheyi Ojo at half-time and netting two goals of his own to leave Klopp, who could yet choose both forwards, with a welcome selection conundrum.
“If all players play like this then I have to make hard decisions,” the manager said.
“That’s not my hobby but that’s the best thing to do as a manager and hopefully we have to make hard decisions for Thursday.”
James Milner, who set-up Origi’s first against the Potters and the Belgian’s strike in Dortmund, feels the home crowd can give Liverpool a boost as they bid to reach the semi-finals.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL FIXTURES
Today’s Matches
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona 11:45
Benfica v Bayern Munich 11:45
