Messi injury leads to guesswork at Nou Camp

As Barcelona prepare to face Inter Milan in tonight’s Group B clash at the Nou Camp, coach Ernesto Valverde is keeping his cards close to his chest over how he will replace striker Lionel Messi, who is sidelined with a broken arm.

“I’m considering various options,” he said. “We have various players who can play there and we could change the system. Everyone will certainly be speculating, and I suppose the opposition coach will be, too, but I’m not going to give him a hand.

“When you have such an important absence, you have to try to make sure that it’s not just one player who assumes the responsibility. It has to be a collective effort to make sure it is noticed as little as possible.

“We’re against an opponent enjoying their best spell of the season, a side that never gives up and has won several of those games late on. They’re a side with spirit. It’ll be a great game, with three important points on the line. The winner will take a big step towards the next round.”

Inter coach Luciano Spalletti refuses to be lulled by Messi’s absence, insisting that the Italian champions still face a very difficult task. “Whoever replaces Messi will want to show his quality,” he said. “Leo does things you’ve never seen before, but Barcelona know how to keep the ball and have the quality to find the answer against any opponent.

“In a team like Barcelona, there’s talent in every position. They’re one of the strongest squads in the world. They’re favourites, but we have to have plenty of self-belief.”

Inter defender Miranda agrees, but says he will face an equally dangerous opponent. “We have more of a chance without him [Messi], but we know that Barcelona have great players. Luis Suarez has quality, strength and is explosive. Tomorrow will definitely be a great headto-head. We haven’t come here to be spectators. We have the quality to play and look to win.”