ANCELOTTI: MESSI'S RETURN IS NOT GOOD NEWS FOR ROMA

The Italian does not think that the
Argentine's restoration to the starting line-
up will affect Neymar and Luis Suarez, who
have both netted 11 times in their past 11
games As a Goal columnist, Carlo Ancelotti will
provide his expertise and insight on this
season’s Champions League through an
exclusive series of columns and videos.
Carlo Ancelotti says Lionel Messi’s likely
return to the Barcelona starting line-up is
“not good news for Roma”, insisting that
Neymar and Luis Suarez will be even more
effective with the Argentine back alongside
them.
Messi suffered a knee injury in a Liga game
against Las Palmas on September 26,
prompting fears that the Catalan club could
struggle without their talismanic No.10.
However, Neymar and Suarez have
flourished in his absence, with both men
netting 11 times in the 11 games that they
have started without Messi, sparking a
debate over whether the pair perform
better without the four-time Ballon d’Or
winner, who made his comeback as a
substitute in Saturday's 4-0 rout of Real
Madrid.
Ancelotti, though, says that the fit-again
Messi is only going to make Barca stronger,
pointing out that his wonderful on-field
rapport with his fellow South Americans
was the key factor in last season’s historic
treble triumph.
"Messi’s return is not good news for
Roma,” the Italian coach told Goal ahead
of Tuesday’s Champions League clash at
Camp Nou.
“It’s true that Suarez and Neymar are doing
very well but clearly Barca with Messi are
something else. Messi brings goals,
quality... He brings everything!
“He brings enthusiasm to his team-mates,
who know that they have by their side a
player capable of unlocking any game at
any moment.
“It’s obviously better to play a Barca
without him. Messi’s presence will only
relegate Neymar and Suarez to the
background in terms of media coverage,
because on the field they do certainly not
reside in the background.
"They had an extraordinary finish to last
season, finding a special chemistry that
allowed Barcelona to win everything.
“I don’t see them suffering with Messi,
neither Neymar nor Suarez.”

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