FC Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez says that widely reported argument between Lionel Messi and Barca coach Luis Enrique in early January has "zero importance" except to show how much everyone at the club cares about winning.
The row during a training game occurred shortly after the winter break, and quickly blew up into a media storm that Messi himself helped fuel by missing a training session and then suggesting he did not know where he would be playing next season.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu initially denied row reports, Latest confirmation of the argument came from the French international Jeremy Mathieu in comments on French radio after Barca's Copa win vs. Atletico.
In an interview today Xavi spoke on the matter:
"These are situations which happen over the season, and can happen in any group of people."
"There are tense situations when you want to win. It has zero importance. The issue is closed."
"We are all united inside and we are all motivated. There is a fantastic atmosphere."
"Mathieu's words will not affect anything. That was solved at the time, and that's it."
"It will happen again with other teammates, other coaches."
"It was given the importance it warranted -- and that is zero. We all want to win. There are moments of tension and intensity."
"It has happened 200 times and in all dressing-rooms."
"It is good that it happens, as everyone wants to win, to feel important and to be plugged-in."
On Neymar
The veteran playmaker also tried to play down the controversy over Neymar's performance at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night, when the Brazilian scored twice but also drew some physical attention from opponents who claimed they had been provoked by his style of play and comments on the pitch.
"Neymar is an extraordinary player." "He makes the difference, he has very skilfull play."
"He dribbles and will get kicked, rough play. He is happy and that must be accepted."
"All this seems a bit exaggerated to me."
"He is a great player -- it depends on himself, but he will be among the world's best players, if he is not already."
(espn)
The row during a training game occurred shortly after the winter break, and quickly blew up into a media storm that Messi himself helped fuel by missing a training session and then suggesting he did not know where he would be playing next season.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu initially denied row reports, Latest confirmation of the argument came from the French international Jeremy Mathieu in comments on French radio after Barca's Copa win vs. Atletico.
In an interview today Xavi spoke on the matter:
"These are situations which happen over the season, and can happen in any group of people."
"There are tense situations when you want to win. It has zero importance. The issue is closed."
"We are all united inside and we are all motivated. There is a fantastic atmosphere."
"Mathieu's words will not affect anything. That was solved at the time, and that's it."
"It will happen again with other teammates, other coaches."
"It was given the importance it warranted -- and that is zero. We all want to win. There are moments of tension and intensity."
"It has happened 200 times and in all dressing-rooms."
"It is good that it happens, as everyone wants to win, to feel important and to be plugged-in."
On Neymar
The veteran playmaker also tried to play down the controversy over Neymar's performance at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night, when the Brazilian scored twice but also drew some physical attention from opponents who claimed they had been provoked by his style of play and comments on the pitch.
"Neymar is an extraordinary player." "He makes the difference, he has very skilfull play."
"He dribbles and will get kicked, rough play. He is happy and that must be accepted."
"All this seems a bit exaggerated to me."
"He is a great player -- it depends on himself, but he will be among the world's best players, if he is not already."
(espn)
