Ernesto Valverde's sensation at coaching Lionel Messi

Ernesto Valverde's sensation at coaching Lionel Messi

Valverde, con Leo Messi y Suárez en un entrenamiento
Valverde, con Leo Messi y Suárez en un entrenamiento | sport

The coach feels relieved that he doesn't have to face him any more

He explained that he was modifying his way of coaching

Ernesto Valverde gave a press conference on Monday ahead of the club's pre-season tour. The coach was asked about how it felt to have Leo Messi under his command. 

"To have Messi as a player is a sensation of comfort because as an opponent you lack players to stop him. I'm trying to get used to the way of training them, him too, and see how they train and learn because someitmes you see things they do that you haven't seen and they are the best options," he said.

"Leo is a unique player and the role he will have is that which he's had the last few years, he can play where he wants and he will do it well." 

Asked about Messi's goalscoring capacity, he added: "It's clear that we will focus on that but in the most positive way we can. Many things determine the position in which he plays. He can be further back and in the end end up in a zone of decisive influence. We want him to be in comfortable zones where he can build the play, and at the same time be close to finish too."

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