Messi: Rome memory spurs Barcelona

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi said his side will use the Champions League final win over Manchester United in 2009 as motivation for the re-match.

The two powerhouses met in the 2009 European final – which Barcelona won 2-0 in Rome – and they are set to lock horns again in Saturday’s Champions League decider at Wembley.

Despite the fact that the English side no longer possess the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in their squad, Messi said talk that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side was weaker now in comparison to the team two years ago, was misguided.

“They won the English championship (Premier League) and they are in the Champions League final,” Messi told reporters at Barcelona’s open media day on Monday.

“They can’t be very weak if they have achieved all that. It is a final, it is a special match given what is at stake. The good memory of Rome is behind us. This will be a totally different match. We are facing a very strong adversary, which has very good players.”

Messi – who has scored 52 goals for Barca this season in all competitions – believes the match will be close and could possibly be deciding by just one moment of individual brilliance.

“They have a tough defence with players that have a lot of experience and have won a lot of games so it will not be easy,” he said.

“This week we will watch videos and talk about ways that we can beat them. It is a good way to finish the season by playing in the Champions League final and it would be very disappointing to lose.”

“It is a big game for the team, the coach and for everyone so we will all do our best. There is no team which has a better chance to win and I think that the match will be decided by an individual action, so we will have to be ready to take advantage of it when it happens.”

“It would be great if I could score in the final but the priority is that someone in the team does.”

The Argentine star is also hopeful that Manchester United play their normal style of play and don’t, like many other sides, try and stop Barcelona from playing their fluid style of football in the final.

“Manchester like to have the ball and pass so if they do the same against us then it will be an open match. We always go out and try to play good football and I can’t say if Manchester will do the same but that is their usual style.”