Barcelona, June 2 (IANS/EFE) Barcelona Argentine star Leo Messi underlined that his teammates “have suffered a lot” to finally reach to the UEFA Champions League final on May 31 against Juventus in Berlin, and so he is thinking only about this clash.
“It is a Champions League final and we have suffered a lot to get here. We know that it won’t be easy to be champions again,” Messi told UEFA’s media service.
“The anthem lets you know that it is a different game, a special game for the competition,” the four-time FIFA Ballon d’Or winner added, Efe news agency reported.
“We are playing against a very difficult and powerful opponent. It is a final where anything can happen, but we will prepare in the same way we did for the previous finals,” Messi said.
Messi recalled his two goals scored in the two finals of the Champions League against Manchester United in Rome (2009) and London (2011), which were decisive in the team’s victory.
“They are very significant parts of my career. The first one because we practically finished the game and were lifting the cup at 2-0. The second one because it made it 2-1 at a point where the game was well-balanced and that is why I celebrated so wildly,” he explained.
The Argentine star promised that Barca would prepare to its best capability the final, as usual.