Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has backed old
nemesis Jose Mourinho to make a successful
return to Chelsea but insists Real Madrid will not
be weakened by the departure of the 'Special
One'.
Mourinho quit the Bernabeu recently before
returning to Stamford Bridge and Messi, who
first crossed swords with the Portuguese coach
during his first spell with the Blues, believes he
will be just as successful second time around.
The Argentina captain also expects his club's
arch rivals to be as competitive as ever in the
Primera Division next season after Los Blancos
brought in Carlo Ancelotti to replace Mourinho.
"I think the Spanish league is difficult anyway
and will continue being difficult," said Messi,
who visited the Senegalese town of Saly today as
part of the Aspire Academy's Football Combating
Malaria project.
"We'll be fighting against strong teams with
great players like Real Madrid. Mourinho was a
great coach but we know that Ancelotti is
equally great. I think Mourinho will also succeed
back at Chelsea because he's a great manager."
Barca recently acquired Neymar from Santos
after a long pursuit, with some commentators
suggesting the Catalans may struggle to
accommodate both Messi and the Brazilian
forward in their XI.
Messi, though, has no such concerns.
"I know Neymar is a great player who is going
to bring a lot to Barcelona," he said. "God
willing, we will be able to play together at
Barca."
Former Barca coach Pep Guardiola will take over
at Bayern Munich next season hoping to build
on the German side's superb campaign last year,
which saw them easily win the Bundesliga and
also lift the Champions League.
Messi believes his old boss will make the
Bavarian outfit even stronger and is relishing
the competition.
"I think we have a great team and great players,
as we've shown over the years," he said. "I think
the arrival of Guardiola will make Bayern
stronger. Winning the Champions League is
always difficult and our objective is trying to win
everything and succeed in all competitions.
"That's how we work at Barcelona.
"You talk of Germany dominating football
recently - I don't know what is going to happen
in the future. I know Germany have a history of
great teams in global football at international
level and club level. Winning the Champions
League is difficult for anyone, whether they are
from Germany or Spain.
"But I know Germany had a great year last
year."
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