Al Ahly coach, Jose Riveiro, has admitted that Lionel Messi will require a special attention ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup opener.
The Egyptian side will face Inter Miami on Saturday, June 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Speaking to ESPN ahead of their opener, Riveiro admitted that Messi will need special attention.
“I’m extremely happy to be here and to lead the team in the Club World Cup,” said the Spaniard.
“We have a big responsibility to perform well in the tournament, and we’ll be playing against strong teams throughout.
“It’s very difficult to prepare for a match against Lionel Messi. The best you can do is to be disciplined when facing him. At times, we’ll need to control the ball before it even gets to Messi.
“Messi is a player who requires special attention when he has the ball. Of course, he’s used to being closely marked throughout his career, but ultimately, he’s part of a strong and exceptional team.
“We’ll be well prepared for this encounter and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens during the match,” he added.
