SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 Messi’s injury problems may be his own fault MADRID: Lionel Messi seems to keep getting Ballon d’Or. Signorini, who also worked as Diego My plan is to play again when my body feels ready.” While Guardiola initially found common ground injured these days, and he could be the one to Maradona’s personal trainer during the Argentine Fears of injury have increased since former with Messi, by the end of the coach’s tenure their blame for his own troubles. great’s playing days, was Messi’s trainer with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola left the team after relationship had soured to the point where the two The four-time world player of the year hurt his Argentina but left the national team following the 2011-12 season. An injury-free Messi helped are no longer on speaking terms, according to the left hamstring while playing for Barcelona on Nov. Maradona’s exit as coach. Signorini said Messi and Barcelona win 16 trophies since 2009, including four book. Messi missed the end of last season - and was 10 and will be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks, keeping Maradona share an obsessive passion for the game Spanish leagues and two Champions Leagues. hobbled during Barcelona’s humiliating Champions him off the field until after Christmas. that clashes with unrealistic commitments put forth “Messi owes Guardiola a lot. His obsessive per- League semifinal loss to Bayern Munich - because of “He’s a kid who doesn’t know how to manage by their clubs and the international playing calendar. sonality helped put order into Messi’s life and it injury, and appears to have taken little time to recov- himself because he is so passionate for the sport. For Messi, who has played nearly every game brought the best out of him,” said Sebastian Fest, co- er. Someone has to set limits for him,” trainer Fernando over the past five seasons, too many games may be author “The Mystery of Messi” alongside former There have been problems off the field, too. Signorini, who has worked closely with Messi, told taking their toll. l’Equipe journalist Alexandre Juillard. Messi has had to deal with tax fraud charges against The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “He needs to have confidence in the people who Messi, who had a history of injuries under previ- him and his father Jorge, with the pair paying more “He’s certain to have problems because of how are taking care of him, especially the people at ous coach Frank Rijkaard, saw his poor diet and off- than 5 million euros ($6.6 million) in back taxes. That he is. It’s fine that you have a contract to play but the Barcelona who are responsible for helping him reach field habits transformed, and his game improved. He dilemma and Messi’s added anxiety of being healthy player also needs to know when to stop,” Signorini the heights he has,” Signorini said. “(But) the player also had physician Juan Brau assigned to travel with to captain a strong Argentina squad into the World said. “And since he cannot manage it, someone also needs to know when to stop and take a break. him fulltime, including when he played for Cup in neighboring Brazil has made this season behind the scenes needs to understand that he He should know how to listen because he is such an Argentina. unlike any other. But that, he said, hasn’t changed needs to be managed.” intelligent person.” Messi, however, has said he “At first he (Guardiola) even tried to regulate him. “I’m doing the same things I always have,” Messi Prior to his most recent injury, Messi said he was would not set any limits to his playing time. Messi’s playing time, to keep from playing so much, said. “This injury happened because it had to. I’m not not yet 100 percent recovered from the last one. But “As long as I feel well enough, I will play when and that’s when they started to butt heads,” Fest the only person who plays so many games every last week was the final chance to garner votes for necessary,” Messi said in a report published in said. “Messi told him, ‘You don’t understand, I have season. “I’m going to stick to the plan we set at the this year’s world player of the year award, so Messi Argentine sports daily Ole. “I don’t need to set limits. to play, always.’ And when Guardiola didn’t play him, start of the season. There’s no reason to do anything played on in the hopes of winning a fifth straight There’s no need to look for things that don’t exist. he sometimes wouldn’t show up for practice.” else.”— AP Ameobi scores brilliant goal as Nigeria draw with Italy LONDON: Italy and Nigeria played out a thrilling 2-2 draw which included a goal-of-the-season contender from Shola Ameobi in an entertaining friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on Monday. Italy dominated the game but the African champions, who joined their opponents at next year’s World Cup on Saturday, produced a few magical touches and defended superbly as the Italians pounded their goal in search of a late winner. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli made eight changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Germany in a friendly on Friday and his side dominated the early stages after going ahead in the 12th minute when Mario Balotelli set up Giuseppe Rossi. Rossi, shrugging off a bout of tonsillitis, showed great composure to shift the ball from one foot to the other before scoring. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi made seven changes from the team which sealed their World Cup place by beating Ethiopia. ST LOUIS: Maximiliano Rodriguez No. 11 of Argentina traps the ball as Edin Visca No. The African side gradually played their way 19 and Haris Medunjanin No. 18 of Bosnia-Herzegovina look on during the interna- back into the game, Victor Moses troubling the tional friendly match. — AFP Italian defence with bursts down both wings. Nigeria equalised in the 35th minute when a deep raking cross from Ameobi was powerfully Aguero’s brace headed past goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu by LONDON: Italy’s goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu (right) vies with Nigeria’s striker Bright Dike (left) Bright Dike. during the International friendly football match at Craven Cottage. — AFP That meant that the first two goals were Ameobi who slammed the ball into the net with Candreva, powerfully driving the ball past Ejide. sinks Bosnia scored by two players born one day apart in the the outside of his right foot. The introduction of the experienced Andrea United States on Feb.1 and Feb. 2, 1987. Rossi Italy almost equalised when Balotelli lobbed Pirlo into midfield after 53 minutes tipped the ST. LOUIS: Striker Sergio Aguero scored Argentina, though, enjoyed more pos- was born in New Jersey to Italian parents and the defence with an overhead kick, ran on to balance Italy’s way and they went close to a win- twice to give Argentina a 2-0 win over fel- session with busy midfielder Angel Di Dike in Oklahoma to Nigerian parents. trap the ball and teed it up before volleying ner as substitutes Marco Parolo and Alessandro low World Cup finalists Bosnia in a friendly Maria creating a string of chances. Di There was nothing strange about the third straight at goalkeeper Austine Ejide. Diamanti hit the woodwork and Diamanti at the Busch baseball stadium in St Louis, Maria’s headed pass into the box led to the goal though — just sheer brilliance. Moses fed Italy drew level just after halftime when crashed a free kick against the bar. Italy have Missouri on Monday. first goal with Begovic fouling Palacio as he Francis Benjamin wide on the left with a perfect Emanuele Giaccherini put the final touch to a now only won one of their last 12 friendlies and Aguero, wearing the number 10 shirt in went for the ball and Aguero following pass and his cross was volleyed in by the leaping fine move involving Rossi and Antonio drawn the last four. — Reuters absence of injured captain Lionel Messi, through to steer it into the net between could have registered a hat-trick but blast- two defenders five minutes before half- ed the ball over the bar in the 75th minute time. “It was important to finish the year Mexico not sitting on laurels after goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had parried well playing like this and that we didn’t a shot from his strike partner Rodrigo concede goals in either match,” Aguero told Palacio. broadcasters TyC Sports. as World Cup slot beckons Argentina, who played out a goalless The striker, lucky the referee missed his draw with Ecuador in New Jersey on Friday, kick in retaliation for a dangerous chal- WELLINGTON: Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has stewardship. “They have had four coaches,” Herbert environment (in a friendly) ... and then came up ended their U.S. tour unbeaten as coach lenge in the 56th minute, found the net 10 kept faith with the team that hammered New said with a smile in relation to Herrera becoming against a New Zealand side that never threatened Alejandro Sabella tried two experimental minutes later with a left-footed volley from Zealand in the first leg of their 2014 World Cup the fourth head coach of the side within six weeks. them. “It’s important for us to change that chal- line-ups and tested defensive variations.