Martino: Messi could miss start of January

Posted Saturday, December 07, 2013 by YAHOO Sport

Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has hinted that Lionel Messi may not be fit in time for the beginning of January.

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The Catalan club has slipped to consecutive defeats in Messi's absence, losing 2-1 to Ajax in the Champions League before seeing its unbeaten record in La Liga ended by Athletic Bilbao last Sunday.

Argentina international Messi is currently recuperating in his homeland and Martino insists the player will not be rushed back into action.

"He is working as planned, completing the different stages of his recovery," Martino said. "We hope that he will be ready at the start of January, but the closer we get to the date we will see if he needs more time.

"We cannot guarantee when he will be ready. What interests us more is that he has completely recovered."

Barca has been widely criticized following back-to-back losses but Martino believes the recent setbacks have not affected morale in the camp.

"There are two options, that the pessimism harms us or makes us even stronger," he added. "We are full of optimism. We need to transform that into the matches. We need to show that we are going to fight and there is a reason why we are top of the league and in the Champions League last 16.

"I don't want to say that we are not worried by losing two games, but we are not loaded by pessimism."