Speaking to Adidas, Lionel Messi admitted it will be like starting all over again when the 2019-20 La Liga season resumes.
The Barcelona captain discussed several topics in his latest interview.
On COVID-19
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 exceptional situation like this. We were all asking ourselves when we would get back to work. For any player, maintaining concentration on the pitch is fundamental.
On mental preparation
There are those who think that mental strength is 40, 50, 60% of our sport. I suppose it depends on each sportsperson in particular. I believe that it is very important and that this is an aspect that is prepared more every day amongst professional athletes.
On training
I’ve tried to train every day at home. Obviously individual training is nothing like training with the group. This is the new normality that we are going to live in. That’s why we have the preparation before competing again.
On returning to action
When we get back to playing, it will be like starting all over again. 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.
On 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, if 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.
On 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.
