02:23Italy: Barca coach Valverde recalls 2018 victory over Milan without Messi
FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde recalled that last year his team successfully defeated Inter Milan without playing Lionel Messi, during a press conference in Milan on Monday.
Valverde responded to questions from journalists about the absence of Lionel Messi for the final group stage match that will be played on Tuesday, with Barca already in the clear to top the group.
"Messi will rest in this match, and there is nothing else to discuss. We played important games, we have important matches left, we are classified and I have decided that some player will not come", explained the coach, adding that those who are playing will have "a great game as we did last year here, we played a great game in which Messi was not present, by the way.”
He also spoke about Inter striker Lautaro Martínez, saying ”he is a player that is doing a great campaign in Inter. He is a fast and powerful player, and there he scored a goal against us, a goal of strength as well. And he also gets along very well with Lukaku, they have mechanised movements that are helping Inter a lot."
Barcalona has already qualified for the next round, while Inter needs to win or get the same result as Borussia Dortmund against Slavia Prague to qualify for the Round of 16 of the Champions League.
02:23FC Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde recalled that last year his team successfully defeated Inter Milan without playing Lionel Messi, during a press conference in Milan on Monday.
Valverde responded to questions from journalists about the absence of Lionel Messi for the final group stage match that will be played on Tuesday, with Barca already in the clear to top the group.
"Messi will rest in this match, and there is nothing else to discuss. We played important games, we have important matches left, we are classified and I have decided that some player will not come", explained the coach, adding that those who are playing will have "a great game as we did last year here, we played a great game in which Messi was not present, by the way.”
He also spoke about Inter striker Lautaro Martínez, saying ”he is a player that is doing a great campaign in Inter. He is a fast and powerful player, and there he scored a goal against us, a goal of strength as well. And he also gets along very well with Lukaku, they have mechanised movements that are helping Inter a lot."
Barcalona has already qualified for the next round, while Inter needs to win or get the same result as Borussia Dortmund against Slavia Prague to qualify for the Round of 16 of the Champions League.