A delighted Joan Laporta was full of great words for his team.


Speaking after the 2-1 victory Barca secured against Sevilla FC, the Catalan club president, Joan Laporta did not reserve words for the FC Barcelona team and also for the man of the match, Lionel Messi, who scored both goals in the encounter and dedicated both to his inspirational colleague, Ronaldinho Gaucho, who was out with a calf injury. Laporta said:

It was a great game of football. Anytime the Barca and Sevilla will play against each other, there lots of expectations and fireworks. Tonight was no different. Barca played well and showed a classical display against a strong Sevilla side who also played beautifully and made the match a memorable one.

Laporta took out time to praise Lionel Messi not just for his magic, but for being very thoughtful and thinking not of himself after scoring, but of his team mates and especially of the absent talisman, Ronaldinho. On Messi's performance, Laporta said:

In football, you have some players who are simply inspirational. Lionel Messi is one of them. He embodies talent and lives and breathes football. He has extraordinary magic, and has been displaying that ever since he started playing with the youth teams. He embodies the essence of football, talent and fine sportsmanship.

On the way Messi celebrated with Ronaldinho's typical thumb-and-little-finger wave with both hands, Joan Laporta enthused:

The celebration was style was a statement. It was an evidence of unity among our team. That demonstrates what a great group we have, and also that Messi has some great qualities. Ronaldinho will soon return to capture the imagination of the fans, and display his great football.

Brazilian super star Ronaldinho has recently been attacked by the press who have chosen to interpret the two consecutive substitutions experienced by Ronnie in Barcelona's last two matches.

Some sections of the media even rumoured that Ronnie was not injured, but was rested intentionally, a news which brought more humour than serious anger in Camp Nou as it had no basis or truth.