Argentine prodigy speaks on post-Espanyol media frenzy shaking up the football world about the role he played at the weekend la Liga game.



Barcelona's latest sensation, Lionel Messi has sought to further clarify issues surrounding him after the gifted forward generated much controversy by virtue of his on-the-field acts during the dramatic Barcelona-Espanyol cracker.


The youthful forward is well aware that many have compared the controversial incident which generated the first goal to a past incident involving his idol, Diego Maradona's at the Mexico '86 World Cup in the match against England. Some of the points of speculation are that Lionel intentionally sets out to do the things Maradona did during his active days on the pitch.

Messi disputes this fact, saying:

I don't set my mind on trying to repeat what Maradona has done before. Football is an instinctive game and these things happen. Soccer actions are not pre-planned but are produced right there on the field of play.
There is no use comparing me to Maradona. He is simply a unique player.

On the events that unfolded during the last minutes of the match, Messi says:

Recently, we have not been lucky at the last minutes of our games. We always play well but seem to tire out in the last minutes of the encounter. This could be the cause.

On Barca's chances of retaining the La Liga, the Argentine rave is optimistic:

There is still a game left and Mallorca can get a draw against Madrid or even beat them. Anything is possible. We on our part have to stay hopeful and work hard.

Cameroonian Star Samuel Eto'o keeps faith with Barcelona's committment to the poor and needy.



That Barcelona was chosen by UNICEF for partnership was not just by random selection. The club and its players personify the International Organisation's philosophies.


Club star striker, Samuel Eto'o examplified this when, prior to the Espanyol match, he sought high and low to get a terminally ill 10-year old child to be close to him always and toured with the Barca squad.


The sick child watched the Espanyol match live and went on to be with the Barca team, attending their training session on Sunday morning and monitoring Coach Rijkaard's work-out techniques.


Perhaps this can encourage the youngster to fight his illness with more resolve and one day become a Coach like Frank or a goal poacher like his idol, Samuel Eto'o.

Barcelona-Espanyol showdown praised by Espanyol's goals record breaking captain.



Raul Tamudo may have equalised for Espanyol in the very last minutes of the match against Barcelona, but the striker is more concerned with other things that came with the goal and not the goal itself.


For one, he has praised Barca and the Espanyol display all through out the game, calling it:

A good game that is worth remembering. The game had all the qualities and elements of a great game and it well worth playing.

He also warned that he did Real Madrid no intentional favour and only did his job as a professional player:

I have not won the title for Madrid. I only did my job and scored which gave my team a point. It is an important occassion when any player scores in Camp Nou and I cherish that experience.

Video Highlights: Saturday 09/06/2007 21:00 (GMT +1), La Liga, Match Day 37
FC BARCELONA - RCD ESPANYOL 2-2 (1-1)

Camp Nou, Barcelona – Attendance: 90.000
Referee: Julian Rodriguez Santiago




Goals:
0-1 Tamudo (30')

1-1 Messi (43')
1-2 Messi (57')

2-2 Tamudo (90')


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Gio (Oleguer, 45'), Iniesta , Xavi, Deco, Gudjohnsen (Motta, 78'), Eto´o, Messi
Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Espanyol (4-4-2): Kameni - Torres, Jarque, Lacruz, Torrejon - De La Pena, Moises Hurtado (Cervera, 61'), Riera (Rufete, 42'), Coro (Domingos, 64'), Garcia, Tamudo

Manager: Ernesto Valverde


Now click below to view the goals and highlights of the match:

The weekend produced the sort of eventful week which has not been witnessed in Spanish football for some time.



Signs of an eventual photo-finish had begun to show on the day Barcelona drew at home to Real Betis some weeks back, a result that threw open the Spanish Championship by giving rivals, Real Madrid an opportunity to have a shot at the top. They took the opportunity and have not let go ever since, except for 33 minutes when they were down by 1-2 against Zaragoza and Barca were 2-1 up against Espanyol. All that changed within seconds in the final spate of both encounters.


Barcelona President, Joan Laporta was shocked at the turn of events in the last minute of the encounter. He summarised his feelings in one sentence:

It's very tough to take, but we have to continue onward by looking forward.

On Barca's chances of still retaining the La Liga trophy, he exhibits optimism:

We still have a chance. One game is still left which has not been played. We will never give up and must fight to the end.