Messi relaxed ahead of showdown

Lionel Messi is "relaxed" ahead of the Champions League Final and admits he wants to stay with Barcelona for the rest of his career.



Already regarded as an all-time great by many, 23-year-old Messi, whose side face Manchester United on Saturday, said: "It's a privilege. It hasn't put any extra weight on my shoulders.



"I love seeing people enjoying themselves while watching me and my team-mates playing and to be able to win all these titles for them.



"I always take things easy - and I'm very relaxed about it because things have gone our way for a long time.



"My idea is to stay at Barcelona," he said. "It's true that in football you never know what is going to happen - one day you are here and two years later you are transferred [for example].



"But as far I'm concerned I would like to play for Barcelona forever."



When asked about Saturday's opponents United, Messi conceded that he does not follow English football too closely.



"Not really - to be honest with you I don't [watch] much football at all but I know that they are a very strong side and well deserved champions of a very difficult league," he stated. "That says it all.



"I'm not sure where their weaknesses are because they are a very strong side, very physical and extremely efficient in all their lines.



"I'm one of those players that doesn't look too much at the opposition and concentrates about what we need to do. This is a one-off game - but we have to think about us.



"We all know what we are capable of because of what we have showed during the whole season. We got to this final in good shape, the guys are up for it. We can't wait for the game to kick off and to probe ourselves once more [to see whether] we can win this again."



Barcelona beat United 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League in Rome, although Messi is unsure how different his side are now - if at all.



He commented: "It's always difficult to compare but what is true is that both teams [Barcelona in 2009 and Barcelona in 2011] showed some great football - and both always tried to play attractive football that people loved to watch.



"We always try to stick to our game and tried to develop our game every time we played - and we've always achieved big things. In 2009 we won the Champions League in a very impressive style and [after that] winning La Liga again and again.



"So I would like to think that some of us are just a bit more experienced this time round.



"We arrived to the final in top form and only a step away from making history once more."



Of United's individuals, Messi said England striker Wayne Rooney was a threat.



"He's a huge player, very skilful and very quick," he added. "He's scored many great goals and is a fully rounded player that can create danger at any time."



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Mourinho looking ahead to Barcelona

Jose Mourinho is looking forward to another meeting with Barcelona in the Champions League.



After wrapping up a 5-0 aggregate victory over Tottenham on Wednesday, the Real Madrid has boss moved closer to a third European crown, having previously claimed the trophy with Porto and Inter.



A tie with arch-rivals Barcelona awaits them in the semi-finals, and Mourinho has plenty previous experience of playing the Catalan outfit in this competition.



"I have to train with ten men, how to play with ten men," Mourinho told ITV on his plans for a meeting with Barcelona.



"I go there with Chelsea, I finish with ten. I go there with Inter, I finish with ten. I have to train to play with ten men because it can happen again."



Mourinho was happy to see Real finish the job off against Spurs in midweek, with most of the work having been done during a 4-0 first leg victory.



On Wednesday's showdown at White Hart Lane, which his side won courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo shot which squirmed through Heurelho Gomes' grasp.



"It was difficult. If they had scored in the first-half, it would have been even more difficult," he said.



Mourinho defended his selection, despite losing Ricardo Carvalho to suspension for the semi-final.



"I think I was right when I decided to play with a good team," he continued. "Tottenham had a couple of chances and of course 4-0 is a good difference but if they scored in the first half with an incredible crowd and a good team it could have be difficult.''



"They played with a lot of pride, with great motivation and the public were fantastic in getting behind them. They gave us a very difficult match.



"Probably the result shouldn't have been our victory, I think a draw would have been fair and a good bonus for them after what they gave. It was difficult, but of course I am happy to be in the semis."



Manchester United and Schalke will contest the other semi-final and Mourinho admits he would relish the opportunity to test himself against Sir Alex Ferguson at Wembley.



"I expect Man U to be there, yes," he said.



"They are the better team. They have a different stature than Schalke at this level. But football is football and Sir Alex will tell his players that you have to respect opponents, even if you know that you are the best team.



"I hope Man United is at Wembley and if it is Man U against Real, that would be the perfect final for me."



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Court to decide if Spain strike goes ahead

A Madrid court will decide next week if the forthcoming round of Spanish league games will be postponed or held as scheduled on April 2 and 3.



The league announced earlier this week it was postponing the games after talks with the government over a law that guarantees one game a week is shown on free-to-air television stalled.



But a group of six clubs have broken ranks with the other top-flight teams and asked a court to oblige the league to honor the scheduled matches.



The court said Friday it would hear both sides on Tuesday before ruling.



All the clubs favor a complete pay-per-view system, but they differ over the decision to proceed with the strike.



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