Messi who suffered a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Las Palmas is set to miss Barca’s next eight games.
According to Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique, playing without Messi who he described as the best player in the world would serve as a challenge for his team, however, he stated that his absence will serve as a motivation for the team to win the game for him.
In spite of Messi’s absence, both goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and Jordi Alba trained on Monday in preparation for the game. “A player like Leo is irreplaceable,” Luis Enrique said on Monday ahead of his side’s return to Champions League action at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
“In pre-season none of Leo, Neymar or (Luis) Suarez played, but our idea of how to play didn’t change. It is a challenge for us to be without the best player in the world, but it also provides an incentive for us.”
Messi is expected to miss La Liga games against Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, Getafe and Villarreal, as well as Leverkusen’s visit and two clashes with BATE Borisov in the Champions League. However, Luis Enrique is confident the 28-year-old will be fit for Barca’s first meeting with Real Madrid this season on November 21 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Leo came in yesterday for the medical check-up and he looked good, he was in high spirits,” added the coach. “Time is in his favour.”
Midfielder Ivan Rakitic is also hopeful that Messi’s absence will act as a spur for his teammates to take more responsiblity in the coming weeks. “Messi’s injury affects us a lot. It hurts not to have the best player in the world, but it also serves as motivation to win the games for him,” said the Croatian international.
“We hope he returns as soon as possible.”
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