Lionel Messi Will Be Difficult To Replace - Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola

Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2010 by Goal.com

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola admits that it will be difficult to replace the injured Lionel Messi unti he recovers.

Lionel Messi Will Be Difficult To Replace - Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola, Barcelona

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted in a press conference today that he will find it difficult to replace Lionel Messi in his starting XI and still ask his team to play in the same way in his absence.

Tomas Ujfalusi’s lunge on the Argentine during the Blaugrana’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday evening means that he will miss Wednesday’s clash with Sporting Gijon at the Camp Nou, as well as the trip to Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.

Speaking to journalists, he added that he hoped to have his team continue in the same attacking dynamic they employ when Messi is available, but will have to look for alternative ways of doing so.

Lionel Messi Will Be Difficult To Replace - Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola

He stated: “Lionel Messi is spectacular and will be difficult to replace, but we must look for ways to continue attacking without him. We have good players and we can do this.

“I am not sure when he can return. If he is ready, he can come to [Rubin] Kazan [in the Champions League]. If not, he can rest another week. There is no time limit.”

Guardiola remained diplomatic when asked what he felt could be deemed as suitable punishment for Ujfalusi, who received a red card for the challenge that has left Messi on the sidelines.

He remarked: “The committee will do what it has to do. Ujfalusi acted without malice.”

Finally he commented on statements made by club legend Johan Cruyff that if the team had converted their second half chances, the loss of Messi may never have occurred.

He concluded: “He [Cruyff] knows that we wanted to close out the match, but things happen and that is it.”