Valverde: Messi is very good

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde dismissed suggestions that Lionel Messi was not fully recovered to qualify for 0: 0 at Athletic Bilbao.

La Liga leader stopped for the third time in a row with no goals in all races. With Messi heading back from a slight injury, Athletic Club did not allow Barcelona to take full marks from San Mames.

Messi kicked Barça’s 1: 1 draw against Real Madrid in the first semi-finals of the King’s Cup on Wednesday, due to the blow he had taken in his squad, but was titled to Bilbao on Sunday.

The Argentine superstar was Barca’s most lively player, but still not at his usual level.

Consequently, Barcelona stopped because Philippe Coutinho did little to ease the burden on the team’s main man. However, Valverde insists that Messi was ready to play.

Speaking to journalists after the game, Valverde said: “Messi is very good, he played at 100% of it.”

“He has had some difficulties because we experienced them as a collective. But when he plays, he does because he is fully convinced that everything is fine, “he added.