Messi: 'When we play again, it will be like starting over'

Leo Messi gave an interview to Adidas' website this week, answering questions about how he has spent the lockdown in Spain and what he expects from the return to action.

The coronavirus crisis

“Nobody expected it. I can't even imagine the global impact that this pandemic is having."
 
“It's difficult to live and work with such uncertainty, and in such a different and exception situation as this. We were all asking ourselves when we would get back to work and to competition. For any player, maintaining concentration on the pitch is fundamental."

Mental preparation

“There are those who think that mental strength is 40, 50, 60% of our sport. I suppose it depends on each sportsman in particular. I believe that it is very important, and that this is an aspect that is prepared more every day amongst professional athletes."

Training

“I've tried to train every day at home. However, obviously individual training is nothing like training with the group."
 
“I don't like having a rhythm of games, but it's the new normality that we are going to live in. That's why we have preparation before competing again."

Resuming the competition

“When we get back to playing, it will be like starting over. We will have some time to prepare before the competition restarts, and we will also bring back some very important players for us, who were injured."
 
“Technically it will be the same season, but I think that all of the teams and players will experience it in a different way."

Playing behind closed doors

“It's a challenge. The preparation from the group is the same as for any other game. However, it's true that individually you have to get ready and think about playing without a crowd, because it's very strange."

"We played a game behind closed doors a while ago, and it was very strange."
 
 
“It's normal that, is football returns, it is in this way after all that we've been through. With everything that is happening in the world, it's perfectly understandable."

The future

“We can't think about what we are leaving behind this year. It's better to think about the future. It will undoubtedly be strange to start with, but I'm really looking forward to competing again."

The Copa América

“Postponing the Copa Amèrica was an enormous disappointment, but at the same time it was normal and logical. It would have been an exciting event for me, and I was very excited about playing in it again."