Messi: The body rules and I have to take more care of myself than before Barcelona Spoke exclusively to MARCA

After winning the 2019 Golden Boot, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi admitted that he has to take care of his body much more than earlier in his career.

The 32-year-old has struggled to get going this season due to a calf problem, and now has to prepare for matches in a different way.

Messi spoke exclusively to MARCA revealing his thoughts on the latest news in football, and some of his Barcelona teammates.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic vindicate themselves. You do not do that. How do you find yourself as a player?

I'd rather people talk about me. I know what I am, what I did and what I can give, but I keep it to myself. People can have their say. I don't like to talk about myself, I like to talk about the collective.

What do you think about Radamel Falcao's signing for Galatasaray?

He is a great striker who scores a lot of goals. Wherever he goes he scores goals. He is a very powerful player in the box with his jump and headers, and he shoots with both feet. He is an impressive striker.

Do you see yourself evolving over time into a midfielder?

I don't know, it depends on how it goes. Now I usually drop myself deeper [on the pitch] to receive and be in contact with the ball and the midfield. I don't know what will happen in the future.

Do you have any idea how long you will continue or is it something that you are monitoring?

You realise yourself how long you can continue [playing]. I'll find out over time. I'll be the first to say, 'I've come this far and I can't do it anymore,' or that I feel good to carry on. Over the years I will find that out.

There is an open debate in Germany about who should be their first-choice goalkeeper. Who do you think is the best goalkeeper between Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Manuel Neuer, and what are their main skills?

They are two great goalkeepers. They are goalkeepers with similar characteristics. They read the play very well; they could play with their feet like midfielders; and they are very fast between the sticks. I know Marc well and I can talk about him, but I don't see Neuer training and I don't usually watch his matches, but I think they are generally two similar goalkeepers.

This year you have missed some games due to injury. How do you feel now that your body is asking for more breaks?

It is difficult because your mind is fine; you think that you are 25 years old and that you can continue doing the same things [as before] at the time. But the body rules and there are circumstances in which you have to be more careful than before. Adapting to it requires a process and preparing differently for training and matches.

What is the difference between Pep Guardiola's Barcelona and the current one?

The truth is that it has been a long time since then. There are many new players; I think we only have three or four from that era. The team was transforming and adapting to the players we had each season.

What are Frenkie de Jong's best qualities and how is your understanding with him on the pitch?

It has been easy for him to adapt to the team because he came from a similar philosophy at Ajax. He grew up with the same idea and the same way of playing, although there he did not have much to play as an anterior [slightly further ahead in midfield than the holding midfielder]. As a pivot [or holding midfielder] he feels more comfortable, but he has adapted well. He likes to have the ball, play short passes, play passes between the lines, and he has a very fast and strong stride. He is a very complete footballer.

Why is it so difficult to beat a player like Virgil van Dijk?

He is a defender who knows how to judge his timing and wait for the right moment to challenge or jockey [the attacker]. He is very fast and big, but he has a lot of agility for his height. He is fast because of its great stride, and he is impressive both in defence and attack because he scores lots of goals.

Cristiano always recommends leaving your comfort zone of Barcelona and looking for other leagues, as he has done four times. Will you listen to him?

Everyone looks for their targets and their experiences. I never had the need to leave the best club in the world, that Barcelona are, and where I enjoy training, games and the city. [The city to club dynamic] is very complete and I was always sure about the targets at this club [rather than going to] look for it elsewhere.

Were you surprised by Antonio Conte's Inter?

I wasn't surprised because we knew what we were going to see. I had seen them in the Italian league, where they started very well, and they are fighting Juventus as equals, which is not easy. We had studied them before facing each other and we knew that they are a very tidy team who plays with heart and many automatisms, and that they were going to be a very difficult opponent.

Despite having won everything, the Puskas prize has escaped you. How do you feel?

I always say that individual awards are not my targets. The Best, the Ballon d'Or or the Golden Boot are not [my targets], and even less the best goal of the year. If I get it it's fine, otherwise everything is OK.

What do you think of Daniel Zsori, this year's winner with that bicycle kick?

It was a very good goal. Impressive; a bicycle kick from far out and high in the air. It was a deserved award.