Barcelona star Dani Alves has reassured fans that Lionel Messi’s potential absence from Sunday’s game at Malaga is no cause for concern.

The Argentine is a major doubt after suffering a thigh injury during his team’s 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in Wednesday night’s Super Cup first leg, just a few weeks after he recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out for the final stages of last season.

However, Alves laughed off concerns that Messi is becoming injury-prone, saying: “Sometimes a Ferrari has to visit the workshop. Messi is just getting a bit of a polish up so he returns better. No need to worry.”

Barca are often accused of being over-reliant upon their star player, and although Alves admitted that is probably the case he also argued it’s an unavoidable state of affairs considering Messi’s ability and consistency. “If you have the best player in the world, it is inevitable that you are dependent on him,” he said. “If you do not have him, you miss him.

“But there is no need to worry about Messi, no need to sound any alarms. He is simply getting treated so he can return as soon as possible.”

Alves also backed his Brazil international teammate Neymar to rise to the challenge of replacing Messi as he continues his integration into the team.

The former Santos man scored his first goal for his new club – heading home at the far post from an Alves to secure Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Atletico and the full-back believes it will prove to be the first of many important strikes from Barcelona’s marquee summer signing.

“Neymar has integrated in the best way possible into the group,” he added. “He looks very happy and he will bring a lot to the team.”

Alves also revealed that new coach Tata Martino is quickly making his mark at the Camp Nou by insisting upon high standards and an intense work ethic.

Former Newell’s Old Boys coach Martino has been widely lauded for his team’s performance in last week’s 7-0 thrashing of Levante, especially the renewal of Barca’s ability to press high up the pitch to deny their opponents time and space on the ball.

“We have a coach who pressures us a lot,” admitted Alves. “He wants us to regain possession sooner, to run more than our opponents and to press more than them.”

 

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