Messi bounces back from weak period

After the gala match against Zaragoza (6-1 win), Lionel Messi thanked his teammates and the fans for the recent support he received.
“I didn’t have the happiest of times with the national team, nor in the Valencia game, but I always knew I’d bounce back.”

Messi put any doubts about the team’s or his own form firmly in their place with his performance in the 6-1 thrashing of Zaragoza.

The Argentine striker made it clear the squad remain confident in their abilities: “we were relaxed – we knew who we are and what this squad could do,” he said on the club’s official website.

His performance against Zaragoza marked the ending of a weak period for Messi. The 22-year-old never doubted his abillities and was confident he would return to his regular form soon enough.

“The most important thing is my teammates and they showed total confidence in me, which makes me feel more comfortable,the boss too – it’s important how he makes you feel, both on and off the pitch. He takes particular interest in you as a human being, not just as a player,” Messi said.

Messi praised his teammates Seydou Keita and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for their perfromances against Real Zaragoza.

“I’m happy for him (Keita), he’s a great player and a great bloke, who always works hard for the rest of us.”

About Ibrahimovic, Messi said: “He’s got a lot of resources on the ground and in the air and we are building up a great understanding”.

The two strikers are both candidates for the European Footballer of the Year Award and Messi is a firm favourite for many observers, but the Argentinian insits that the important things are the collective achievements; not the individual’s.

“Last year we had a great season and now we are picking up these prizes. I hope someone from our team wins the award, it’ll make the whole squad happy. I’ve always said that the most important thing for me is the group.”