Valverde talks Messi, Griezmann and Dembele after Dortmund win

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The Barcelona boss offered his thoughts on the match

Ernesto Valverde offered his thoughts on Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann as well as Ousmane Dembele’s injury problems after Wednesday’s win over Dortmund.

Messi, Griezmann and Luis Suarez were all on target to send Barcelona into the knockout stages as group winners on a good night for the Barca coach.

Much has been made of the understanding between Griezmann and Messi in the Barca attack, but Valverde says the two players have a good relationship on the pitch.

“Luis and Leo understand each other perfectly because they have been together for a long time. At first it wasn’t like that,” he said.

”Messi is an extraordinary passer and Griezmann was unmarked as well. You just have to find the timing. And of Leo’s match, what am I going to say? It was amazing. It is not only what he does, but when he does it.”

Valverde also spoke about seeing Dembele suffer more injury frustration and go off in the first half of the match. Barca have since confirmed it is a thigh problem but are yet to reveal how long they expect him to be out for.

The Barca boss admitted it was bad news for the club and the player but said they will do all they can to help him get back out on the pitch.

“I don’t know if it’s a relapse or what leg it is. It has been a rare move because it has been in a jump, in which the leg has gone backwards. I don’t know. Right now we are sad for him because we are qualified but the bad news is the injury. We know he is suffering and we will see if we can help him.”

Source | AS

Barcelona’s focus will now return to La Liga. They head to Atletico Madrid on Sunday and then welcome Real Mallorca to Camp Nou a week later.

Source: barcablaugranes.com