Barcelona: Lionel Messi explains why he would rather start on the bench than be substituted
Messi also explained why he is not a ‘typical goalscorer’
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi has explained that he would rather start on the bench than be substituted.
The Barcelona captain revealed that he likes being on the field when games are resolved.
As such, he would rather come on than be taken off, even if it means he plays fewer minutes.
“I don’t like to be replaced,” Messi told TyC Sports.
“I prefer to come from the bench and play less than to be taken out.
“I say that because a lot of games are resolved near the end of the game, or you find more spaces then because you have more rivals that are tired. I prefer to come in and enjoy it than to leave and miss out on the best.”
Messi provoked debate in 2014 by appearing to refuse to be substituted during a comfortable Barcelona win over Eibar.
Luis Enrique, then manager at the Catalan club, appeared to shout at Messi and gesture to the bench indicating he wanted to come off, but Messi refused, with Neymar eventually withdrawn instead.
The Argentine forward endured a frustrating start to the season as he battled injury, but has scored in each of Barcelona’s last two games, before the rearranging of El Clasico means Messi enjoyed a weekend off.
Those goals took Messi’s tally to 674 goals in just 829 games for Barcelona and Argentina.
But Messi claims that he is not a “typical goalscorer”, and explained how he has evolved his game to become a better player.
“I still think I’m not the typical goalscorer,” he said. “I prefer to come from behind, to have more contact with the ball, create.
“I also like to get there in the box and score but I don’t live off [scoring] goals. I like to be in constant contact with the ball.
“I have learned to adjust myself in a game and find that moment. There are times when I don’t need to get involved and then I wait for that moment when I think that is the right time to give that physical wear.
“I have grown in terms of reading the game better. To know at what moment and where I can be more effective and crucial.”
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