Football
ESPN staff 8y

Barcelona haven't asked us to rest Lionel Messi against Venezuela - Bauza

Barcelona have not asked Lionel Messi to skip Argentina's World Cup qualifier at Venezuela, according to Albiceleste manager Edgardo Bauza, as concerns about the Blaugrana star's health persist.

Messi underwent tests at Barca's training ground on Monday after he ended Sunday's 1-0 La Liga win against Athletic Bilbao in discomfort. 

The club later confirmed the 29-year-old had a sore left hamstring, but allowed Messi to travel to Argentina and join the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay on Sept. 1 and Venezuela on Sept. 6.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Bauza said he expects his No. 10 to play in the first match and has been given no instructions from Barcelona regarding Messi's availability in the second.

"Leo trained normally today," Bauza said. "Yesterday we let him relax a little as he'd just arrived. 

"I've heard all sorts of things! Barcelona haven't asked for him to skip the second match. The medical teams -- club ones -- are always in constant contact with us. We'd have been the first to decide against taking a risk if Messi wasn't fit."

However, Bauza added that Messi's exertions against a rugged Uruguay side could possibly rule him out against La Vinotinto.

"Depending on how the game goes the team can press higher up, but not the whole game, it's a big physical demand. I think most of the pressing will be happening in the middle third of the pitch," he said.

"I don't think Messi is going to have any problems with playing the full match. Maybe not against Venezuela. It depends on how he finishes this match first ... and not only Messi but the others too."

Bauza, who took over as manager for Gerardo Martino in the wake of Argentina's loss in the Copa America Centenario final this summer, has been impressed with the professionalism and quality of the team he inherited.

"I found a group of players with a great predisposition to work. Really excellent. They travel so far from Europe and as soon as they're here they're ready to train," the former Sao Paulo and San Lorenzo manager said.

He added: "These players are good enough that they can get around problems much more easily than one expects. Today's training session made clear to me that they can circulate the ball very well and get it to the forwards."

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