Martino: Neymar & Messi to shine - 7M sport

Martino: Neymar & Messi to shine



Posted Monday, September 02, 2013 by Goal.com

The Blaugrana coach was in bouyant mood after his side's hard fought victory at Mestalla and he sees no problem with his two South American stars working in tandem

Martino: Neymar & Messi to shine

Gerardo Martino claimed that any notion of Neymar and Lionel Messi being unable to play alongside each other had been extinguished after Barcelona’s display in their 3-2 victory over Valencia.

The Brazilian set up his Argentine team-mate for his hat-trick at Mestalla and Martino told reporters he cannot see why the South American duo won't continue to flourish in tandem.

“Yesterday there were doubts about the Messi and Neymar connection after their first game together," he mused. "Things have been solved within 24 hours.”

The former Paraguay coach declared the performance “the best version” of his side he had seen since taking the reins at the Nou Camp over the summer, as Messi fired the Blaugrana into a 3-0 lead in the first half, only for Valencia’s Helder Postiga to pull two goals back before the break and set up a tense second period.

“It is true that in the second half we could have increased the difference," he conceded . "But at the same time Valencia hit the woodwork and that’s what concerns me most,”

The 50-year-old played down the difficulties faced by the La Liga champions when balls were delivered into their area at the Mestalla, but admitted that even if the hosts had forced an equaliser he would still have been happy.

“I don’t think we’ve had a lack of control because we knew they would use their height," he argued.

“I believe that had the outcome have been different, I would still have been satisfied, because today we have found more football, more dynamics and more movement.”

Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga on goal difference and are one of four teams still with a 100 per cent record going into the international break.



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