On the relish of facing Barcelona and world best player, Messi, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has urged his players to walk out with a smile on their faces.
The Premier League club resume their Champions League campaign at a sell-out Wembley Stadium on Wednesday after losing their opening group game against Inter Milan.
They are without five first-team regulars, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Serge Aurier, although Hugo Lloris will return, but Pochettino wants his team to relish facing Lionel Messi.
“It’s about enjoying the game tomorrow and the best player in the world in Messi,” he said.
“Football is not a drama but always it’s about being focused, competitive and enjoying playing against the best player in the world.
“Be optimistic and be happy and smile when you go on the pitch. Don’t be too serious.”
Pochettino accepts Messi will be Barcelona’s biggest threat.
“It’s very clear, very simple, we need to be near him when he gets the ball,” he added.
“If we leave him space he will get away from his marker. What we need is to have players helping each other. We need to demand sacrifice and they will expend a lot of energy.”
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