'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi has urged his teammates to end an ‘amazing’ year on a high note by claiming their fifth trophy of the season, which is the FIFA Club World Cup. The Catalan giants are currently in Yokohama, Japan to take part in the tournament where they will face Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-final on Thursday evening.
The Blaugrana have won La Liga, Copa Del Rey, UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup in the 2104/15 season. However, they failed to win the Spanish Super Cup where Athletic Bilbao trounced them 5-1 in a two-legged affair. Notably, in 2009, Barcelona won all the six trophies on offer in a calendar year under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
“It's been an amazing year,” Messi said.
“That time when we won everything under [Pep] Guardiola [in 2009] looked unrepeatable, we genuinely weren't sure if we'd one day get close to that again. And here we are.”
“Now what's left for us to do is end the year in the best possible way and make it unforgettable.”
“We know just how much the Club World Cup means and for us it's about winning another title, these championship wins are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. It's something very important.”
Privilege to have Neymar alongside us: Messi
The Argentine has won literally everything that is to be won at the club level in football, but he made it clear that he needs no catalyst to spur him up every time he walks out on the field and claimed that the team will walk out with the aim of winning the prestigious competition as it adds to the legacy of the club.
“There’s no need [to search for motivation]! We know just how much the Club World Cup means and for us it’s about winning another title, these championship wins are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. It’s something very important.”
Barcelona have previously won the tournament on two occasions, with Messi being the star on both. In 2009, the 28-year-old scored a winner deep into extra time to give his team the win against Argentine club Estudiantes La Plata.
Two years later, in 2011 Barcelona played against Santos which featured Neymar and trounced the Brazilian club 4-0. The 23-year-old Brazilian is a doubt for the clash after suffering a groin injury a couple of weeks back, and Messi hailed his teammate’s monumental growth and said that it is a privilege to play alongside him.
“A lot of time’s gone by since then and I’ve witnessed his enormous growth, both as a footballer and as a person. Back then he was already a really great player and now he’s even more so, he’s much more complete. Truthfully, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to have him alongside us now.”
