TOKYO: Barcelona star Lionel Messi on Thursday expressed hope for improved fortunes under new coach Ernesto Valverde after a disappointing year for the Catalan club.
“Whenever I start a new season there is a very clear-cut goal, which is that Barcelona would do its best,” said the Argentine wizard, who recently agreed a three-year contract extension at Barca.
“Personally I am very happy and looking forward to starting the new season,” added the newly wed Messi as Barcelona celebrated a new sponsorship deal with Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten at its Tokyo headquarters.
“It’s a new beginning. Everything will be new (under Valverde). We are hearing a lot about his very good reputation so we will just do our best.”
While Messi avoided making bold statements for the new campaign after fierce rivals Real Madrid stormed to the La Liga and European Champions League titles last season, Barca teammate Arda Turan said: “It’s important that we are going to win all the titles this year — we can do it.”
They were joined by Neymar and Gerard Pique for the media event with Rakuten founder and chief executive officer Hiroshi Mikitani.
“The objective is always to win, whether or not I score goals,” said Neymar.
“We are a team,” added the Brazilian. “If I can score goals obviously I’ll be happy, but with Pique and Messi, and the other players score goals that’s also good. As long as the team wins I’m happy.”
Valverde replaces Luis Enrique, who stepped down at the end of a successful three-year spell in charge of Barca.
Rakuten’s four-year sponsorship deal, worth €55 million ($63 million) a year, will last through June 2021, with the option of a one-year extension.
The e-commerce giant replaced Qatar Airways, Barcelona’s shirt sponsor since 2013.
Rakuten signed the deal as it seeks to expand overseas.
The company already owns J-League side Vissel Kobe and professional baseball team Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Messi seeks fresh start under new Barca coach Valverde
Messi seeks fresh start under new Barca coach Valverde
Inter continue Scudetto march after Champions League humbling
- Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto
MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan bounced back from Champions League elimination with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Genoa which continued their march toward the Serie A title.
Federico Dimarco’s brilliant volley just after the half-hour mark and Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty were enough for Inter to extend their already huge lead over AC Milan at the top of the table to 13 points.
Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto.
Inter, whose fans unloaded a collection of anti-Milan chants in anticipation of the derby, have dropped just two points in 15 league matches and have been a cut above the rest in Italy’s top flight this season.
Their domestic dominance comes in stark contrast to the humiliating manner in which they were dumped out of the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night.
A 5-2 aggregate defeat to the Norwegian minnows cast doubts over not just the quality of Cristian Chivu’s team but of Italian football as a whole.
There was plenty of quality in Dimarco’s opener however, the Italy full-back beautifully placing a first-time finish from a tight angle after exchanging passes with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Little else happened in a humdrum encounter until Alex Amorim handled a cross from Luis Henrique, whose shot had been tipped onto the post just moments before.
Calhanoglu calmly stroked home the spot-kick on his return to action following niggling muscle problems which have caused him issues since before Christmas, sealing the points for Inter.
Big Rom back
Romelu Lukaku kept Napoli on course for a Champions League spot with a last-gasp winner in the champions’ 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Verona, the Belgium forward’s first goal of the season.
Lukaku forced home Giovane’s cross to snatch the win for third-placed Napoli with the last kick of the game at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Napoli had looked like dropping points in northern Italy when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro levelled Rasmus Hojlund’s early opener in the 65th minute.
But Lukaku, who only played his first game of the season in late January, gave Napoli a huge win with both Como and Atalanta pushing for a top-four placing.
“I was a dead player before coming here,” said Lukaku to DAZN.
“This season has been difficult, but we’ve got to aim high.”
Napoli’s title defense is all but over as they trail Inter by 14 points after an injury-ravaged season.
Napoli were missing key midfielders Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa on Saturday, as well as captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Verona, under interim coach Paolo Sammarco following the sacking of Paolo Zanetti earlier this month, are 10 points from safety after a 12th straight match without a win.
Como, who face Inter in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday, strolled to 3-1 victory over strugglers Lecce to continue their push for a first-ever qualification for European football.
Cesc Fabregas’s team are two points behind Roma, in fourth and Juventus’ opponents on Sunday, and five behind Napoli.
Como are also two points ahead of sixth-placed Juve who face Roma trying to stay in touch with the Champions League places after being eliminated from Europe’s elite club competition by Galatasaray on Wednesday.
