Mascherano: "Messi is the main reason Barcelona can beat anyone"

Mascherano: "Messi is the main reason Barcelona can beat anyone"

Mascherano habló del duelo Bayern - Barça
Mascherano habló del duelo Bayern - Barça | sport
EFE

The former Barça man doesn't seen Bayern as clear favourites either

Former Barça midfielder Javier Mascherano, who now plays for Estudiantes de la Plata, doesn't believe Bayern are as big favourites as some are saying. Barça and Bayern will face each other for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League tonight.

"Bayern have a very good team with some physically strong players but, in a one-off match, anything can happen and I'm convinced Barcelona will be good enough," Mascherano told 'Ara'. 

"Barcelona need to control the match because it's always difficult for them to defend around their own area. If they can control things, then it's down to individual moments and that's when things begin to happen."

"Messi is the main reason Barcelona can beat any team," insists Mascherano. "He knows they are just two more matches away from the Champions League final. I saw that desire from him against Napoli and it spread to his teammates."

Mascherano didn't want to be drawn on whether Lautaro Martinez was the ideal replacement for Luis Suarez in Barça's attack. "I don't know if he's the perfect replacement for Luis Suarez. What I do know is he's a very good player and is very compatible with Messi for the national team. But I don't know if he's Suarez's replacment or if Suarez needs replacing."

Topics with the letter