NEV READY TO REIGN IN SPAIN NOW
33
“Arsenal are capable of everything. We played a great game, but we know the tie is not over yet. Two goals away from home is very important, but we will go out to win the return.”
Messi capped a devastating counter- attack by sweeping home his first on 71 minutes. The strike ended his run of 10 hours and 11 minutes without a goal against former Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.
Messi then netted his second from the spot with seven minutes left after being fouled by substitute Mathieu Flamini.
He added: “We played excellently against a fantastic team. I’m delighted with the way we played throughout the game.
“We leave here with a great result, but the idea had always been to go out and win.
“Fortunately I was able to stick the penalty away this time. We’ve missed a few this season, because goalkeepers are doing their homework on us”.
Sergio Busquets praised Arsenal and warned that Barca will have to be on their mettle in the Nou Camp.
He said: “Physically they were very good, as they were tactically in the first half, but in the second we were much better.
“If they wanted to take risks, well so did we. That’s what happened in the second half and we took good advantage of it.
“We have a lot of respect for them for the return game. We know that this result is a really good one, but they can score against us at any given moment.”
consecutive competitive games since they lost. The Spanish record is Real Madrid’s 34 games unbeaten back in
1987/88. GARY NEVILLE will be offered a two-year contract at Valencia – which casts doubt over his England future.
Neville endured a disastrous start to his reign as a La Liga boss, but three victories in a week have strengthened owner Peter Lim’s faith in his head coach. Valen Valencia’s sporting dire director Jesus Garcia Pi Pitarch has made it c clear they are now r ready to make him p permanent boss w with a two-year d deal.
Neville (left) has main maintained his role with England under Roy Hodgson and will go to the Euros this summer as part of the coaching set-up.
But if he stays in Spain that could rule him out of any chance of the England job if Hodgson goes after the tournament.
The former Manchester United star has been told the club want a return to the Europa League places, while he has also been briefed on pre-season plans.