Extraordinary Messi wins more praise

17 February 2013 01:20

Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura has claimed that Lionel Messi is 'extraordinary' after his double against Granada on Saturday.

Ighalo opened the scoring for Granada in the first-half, but the Argentine conjured two goals later on - including his 300th for the Catalan giants - to inspire his side to a 2-1 victory.

"Messi's record is just another one," he told reporters after the match. "Today we were goal-shy, and he managed two. It's something extraordinary.

"On the bench you're always nervous when you see the result in the balance. We suffered, and logically so. Perhaps at certain stages, we lacked something, knowing the difficulty of facing our opponents.

"Keeping clean sheets is one of the areas in which we have to improve. We should have kept them a little more quiet, but then let us not forget Granada played well."

The 45-year-old opted to start the out-of-form Alexis Sanchez as he rested several first-team stars ahead of their Champions League tie with AC Milan next week, but the Chilean once again came under criticism.

"The other day he [Sanchez] scored [against Getafe last week], and it's true that today, he failed. We will continue to try to help and encourage him because we have always said that his attitude is very good," he continued.

"He won't have problems."

Nolito unfazed by Barcelona clash

15 February 2013 06:12

Granada winger Nolito says he and his team-mates are undaunted by facing Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.

Despite the colossal task facing the league leaders, with 36 points separating the two sides on the table, the man on loan from Benfica is remaining upbeat.

"It's complicated, but we will try to be ourselves. If we can beat Deportivo (La Coruna), Real Madrid and Barcelona then it would be a few days worth celebrating," Nolito told reporters at a press conference.

"We know it will be a difficult game, but we are preparing with the same intensity that we had against Madrid and Deportivo.

"Football is 11 against 11 and we have to play like we have been playing. Barcelona can score a goal in a second, we must try to be brave and outrun them."

Granada head into the clash sitting 15th in La Liga, six points clear of the relegation zone.