GEMMA HERRERO.
The last time Leo Messi suffered a serious injury was no less than four seasons ago. It happened during a Champions League match against Celtic on the 4th March, 2008. The striker limped off the pitch in tears whilst holding the hamstring of his left leg. He was out for six months but returned in time to face Manchester United, who knocked Barça out of the competition.
Some months before, in December 2007, he suffered the exact same injury in a match against Valencia in Mestalla and was out of action for a month and a half. His most serious injury prior to that happened in 2006, when he suffered a broken metatarsal in his left foot and was side-lined for three months.
The injuries that plagued Messi in his first few seasons at Barça became a thing of the past with the arrival of Pep Guardiola. The Barça manager revolutionised the squad’s habits. He encouraged the players to eat at the clubs facilities in the ‘Ciudad Deportiva’ after morning training sessions and each member of the team was given expert advice by nutritionists.
The training session also changed. Guardiola brought in a trusted group of physios who had very specific ideas and methods. It is obvious that these changes worked for Messi, because he has escaped injury ever since.
Source: Marca.es
