Jordi Alba is confident Barcelona can overcome Lionel Messi’s absence against Inter Milan and Real Madrid this week but warned there’s no one in the world capable of filling in directly for the Argentine.
Messi is set for three weeks on the sidelines after fracturing a bone in his arm during Saturday’s win over Sevilla. He will miss Wednesday’s Champions League game against Inter as well as Sunday’s Clasico and may not reappear again until after the November international break.
“There is no other player that can substitute Leo, however good they are,” Alba said in a news conference on Tuesday when asked how Barca could replace Messi in the meantime.
“Leo is different to the rest, he makes the team better. We all have to take responsibility. Sometimes, everyone looks to Leo to resolve games, but with him missing we all have to work hard and show what a great team we are.”
Alba will particularly feel Messi’s absence. The relationship between the two on the pitch has developed in recent years, with Messi regularly finding Alba’s runs down the left flank.
“It affects me a lot,” the left-back admitted. “I feel better with Leo on the pitch. He gives me passes that others don’t see, even me. I have a good understanding with him because he spots me in space that no once else sees. He looks for me and I look for him.
“I feel stronger with Leo there, but my game will still be the same. Of course we are going to miss him. We’re much better with him. But we will do everything possible to win these games without him.”
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