Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Ronald Koeman begs Lionel Messi

The coach of Barcelona, the Dutch Ronald Koeman, assumed that his team will need "the best Messi" for this Saturday's classic with Real Madrid, since winning it will allow the Catalans to reach the top at least until the current leader plays. from La Liga, Atlético Madrid, on Sunday.

The coach considered that the game "isn't decisive" for the future of the Spanish tournament, despite the fact that Madrid could marginalize his team to third place in case of obtaining a home win at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium. "We need the best Messi, but we also need the best Barça to win tomorrow. You have to be well, do things perfectly well," Koeman remarked today at a press conference.

The Dutchman wished that tomorrow was not the last classic for Messi or for Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, given the rumors of departure at the end of the season that surround both players. "The best thing for our League is that the best players stay until the last minute they can play," he said respectfully.

And then he made a difference: "Messi cannot be compared with Sergio Ramos because one is a defense and the other is an attacker, but both have been very important for their teams and I hope that Ramos will continue at Real Madrid and Leo will continue with us."

Koeman assured that Barcelona "is confident of making a great game against Madrid" and adding to the ultimate goal, which is "to win the league. Atlético Madrid, which this Sunday will visit Betis, commands the positions with 66 units, followed by Barcelona (65) and Real Madrid (63).

Given the parity in the top positions, the Dutchman considered that "in principle (the classic) isn't decisive, because afterwards we have many days to go, in which any team has a difficult time winning all its matches".

What the Barcelona coach did accept was the emotional impact that the clash between the two biggest clubs in Spain could generate: "Whoever wins will have an important morale to continue." Barcelona will recover defenders Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto, after overcoming their respective injuries. "They're two important players for this team, not only because of their quality but because of their personality," he concluded.