Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has provided the latest injury update regarding their star player Lionel Messi, who seemed to have picked up an ankle strain last Wednesday during Barca’s 8-0 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna.
During the match, the Argentine left the pitch in pain and went ahead to miss Thursday’s training session, thus sparking speculations over his fitness levels. The injury concern comes at a time when the Blaugrana are in a neck-to-neck chase for the title against their Madrid rivals Real and Atletico.
However, Los Blaugrana boss Luis Enrique confirmed that the 28-year-old was in good health and raring to go when they host Sporting Gijon at Nou Camp on Saturday.
Luis Enrique: "Messi is in perfect condition after taking a knock against Depor" #FCBLive pic.twitter.com/oOwzAKxwCU
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 22, 2016
The Spanish tactician was speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of the Nou Camp clash. He said:
“I am very happy with the whole squad, I have no complaints. And we have the perfect fans who always get behind us.
“Messi was unfortunate with the knocks he took at Riazor but he has trained fine this Friday and is perfectly fit.
“I make changes when I see that they can help the team to improve. When I don’t, the players on the pitch, stay on the pitch.''
The Catalan giants are level with Atletico Madrid on 79 points, while their bitter rivals Real Madrid are one point behind with 78 points, sitting at the third place. With the resurgence of Luis Suarez, who pumped four goals past Deportivo on Wednesday and provided three assists in the process, Barca’s MSN partnership up front will be put to task once again this weekend.
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