Marcelino: Pique? There's only one player I don't want on the pitch...
The Valencia coach doesn't care who plays... unless his name is Messi
However, he acknowledges it's good for the spectacle that Messi plays
Barcelona travel to Valencia with doubts in defence ahead of their Copa del Rey semi final second leg -- they won the first leg 1-0 last week at Camp Nou.
Gerard Pique is a serious doubt for the game, so Yerry Mina could come in for his debut. However, Valencia coach Marcelino is not bothered who plays or doesn't for the Catalan side -- unless their name is Lionel Messi.
"I'm not focusing on that," he said. "If they have to play hide and seek with us, it means that they respect us. It doesn't matter to us whether one plays or another.
"I would only like there to not be one player on the pitch, the most decisive one (in reference to Messi), but for the good of the spectacle it's good that he's there. The rest, it doesn't matter."
It wasn't the only praise Marcelino has for the Argentine international during the press conference and he also spoke about him being rested against Espanyol on Sunday.
He added: "It's evident that, despite having a lot of extraordinary players, Barça have less resources without Messi than with Messi.
"I think (they held him back at Espanyol because they want to get to the (Copa del Rey) final and because they respect us a lot. What's more, they reserved up to five players. I'm sure we will be against the best Barça."
