Lionel Messi: I prefer to win La Liga than be the top scorer again

Lionel Messi feels optimistic about Barcelona's future despite a poor start to the campaign, which could be his last playing for the club.

"We're going to try and win everything," he said after being awarded the Pichichi by Marca for last season. "We always try with this club. We're growing little by little. It's true we struggled to get going in La Liga, though, and we shouldn't have dropped so many points.

"That said, I think we deserved more in the games against Alaves and Getafe and also against Real Madrid at Camp Nou. We created a lot of chances to score. If we take them, the situation right now is different."

Go on a run

Messi continued: "Now the most important thing is to go on a run of good results to get ourselves back towards the top. The season is long and with the pandemic all games are difficult. The truth is football has chanced a lot, but little by little we are adjusting.

Messi said he is surprised to have won so many Pichichi awards -- seven in total, overtaking Zarra -- but says he's not set it as a target for this season.

"It's not something I obsess or worry about," he added. "I prefer to win La Liga, something we didn't manage last season, so we will fight for that."

The Barça No. 10 also said he hates playing without supporters in the stadiums: "It is horrible playing without fans, it's ugly. Not seeing anyone in the stands is like a training session and it's hard to get into the game at first.

"That's why games are more even. It's hard to win, whoever you're against. The pandemic has provoked a lot of changes in football -- for the worse. We're seeing it in every game. I hope we can get past it, get fans back in the stadiums and return to normality." 

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