Real Madrid defender, Sergio Ramos has said he really rates Lionel Messi despite the rivalry between his club and Barcelona.
Ramos believes Messi will forever be seen as one of the best players ever whether he is a rival or not.
According to Ramos, he will always wish Messi the best as a fellow professional as long as his success does not affect Real Madrid negatively.
He added that Messi will keep having his maximum respect because he is one of the greatest players in history.
His words, “I have huge respect for him,”
“I think he’s one of the greatest players in history and I have huge respect for him. I hope Sunday isn’t his day, that would mean we’ve done our job, and if on top of that we can get a good result even better.
“I wish him all the best as a fellow professional but only as long as it doesn’t affect us negatively! It’s hard, but he has my maximum respect, I think he’s one of the best.”
On if they can win the El Classico, “We’ve played them many times, so we know how to trouble them. Barcelona are a team who keep possession a lot. They’re most uncomfortable when you try to take it from them. Everyone knows that, not just Real Madrid.
“Putting pressure on them high up is risky but it causes them problems. Before it didn’t happen so much, maybe because teams gave them too much respect and they would play the ball out from the back really well. But I think that’s the key: pressure high up the pitch and try to steal the ball from them, that’s when they’re most uncomfortable.
“There’s always the risk that up top they’ve got very dangerous players who can be decisive in El Clasico. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, that we maintain our concentration from the first minute until the last and that things turn out as we want them to.”
“It will be very tight. The points difference between both sides is minimal and the result could be decisive this season.
“But there’s still a long way to go, there are still a lot of points up for grabs and anything can happen. But a win would be huge for us, playing at home in front of our fans. That gives us extra motivation and satisfaction; together with them we’re stronger.
“Our rivals have to feel that, and so do we when we’re out there on the pitch. Hopefully we can make a statement with a win at home.”
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