Spanish La Liga: Messi is extraordinary, says Roura

Barca official lauds star after reaching 300-goal milestone.

MADRID: Barcelona assistant manager Jordi Roura hailed 300-goal Lionel Messi after the Argentine’s double helped his side come from a goal down to beat Granada 2-1 on Saturday.

Messi’s first goal was also his 300th in a Barcelona jersey and Roura was particularly relieved for his efficiency in front of goal on a night when some of his teammates had passed up a number of clear chances.

“What am I going to say? It is something extraordinary,” Roura told reporters. “To score 301 goals I think is incredible and, in this game, when we lacked cutting edge he helped us.”

Roura was also happy with how his side responded after Odion Ighalo had fired the hosts into the lead against the run of play on 26 minutes.

“The result is very good but I don’t think it was the only good thing. We weren’t clinical in front of goal, but these players love to compete and after the first goal we have gone until the end and managed to come back,” he said.

Full-back Jordi Alba also highlighted Messi as the decisive factor in the match.

“It is good that his numbers keep improving for him and for the team, which is the most important thing,” he said. “It was difficult for us, but at the end Leo decided it.”

Victory extended Barca’s lead at the top to 15 points over Atletico Madrid and 19 over Real Madrid.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2013.