Daily Times

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde on Tuesday said Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric ‘is a great player’ but there is none like club captain Lionel Messi.

Speaking ahead of the club’s trip to Leganes later today, Valverde hailed Messi calling him the best in the world, despite Real Madrid’s Modric bagging the FIFA best player of the year award.

“There is no doubt that Luka Modric is a great player, but we have said it before and we will say it again that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world,” Valverde said while speaking to the press.

The coach spoke about the disappointing draw against Girona at the Camp Nou saying that the plan was to win the three fixtures against Girona, which he said did not go as planned, against Leganes and Athletic Bilbao.

Valverde was also in support of the VAR saying that it reduces the chance of an unfair or mistimed call and that it is a good step taken by the football body. “Deep down, we all want the technology to help us in the game and make football fairer,” he said.

Barcelona will face Leganes away from home at 11pm Pakistan time.