Barcelona can manage without Messi, says Alves
Defender says absence of goal-scoring hero is a chance for leaders to show their strength
Barcelona defender Dani Alves has said the La Liga leaders can cope without Lionel Messi for their clash with Mallorca on Saturday.
The four-time World Player of the Year strained his hamstring in the 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, ruling him out of this weekend’s game and possibly the return against the Parisians on Wednesday.
However, Alves believes the Argentine’s absence is a great opportunity for Barca to show they are far from a one-man team.
“The fact he is not going to be there is an incentive to show that we have the sufficient quality to compete without him and to show we can do just as well as when he is there.” the Brazilian told a press conference on Wednesday.
Messi’s injury though wasn’t the only important loss the Catalans suffered in the French capital as Javier Mascherano was stretchered off with a lateral knee ligament injury which will rule him out for six weeks.
And with Carles Puyol and Adriano already ruled out for the coming weeks due to injury, Alves has said he would be more than willing to deputise in central defence having played in a back three under Pep Guardiola last season.