Vilanova dismisses Messi-Villa bust-up
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova dismissed concerns that Lionel Messi and David Villa were angry with one another after they were spotted having a row in the game against Granada.
By ESPNSTAR.com staff
The La Liga leaders were set to drop their first points in the season until a late rally, led by Xavi Hernandez, secured the points against Granada at the Camp Nou on Saturday.
But earlier in the game, the Catalan side were frustrated by Granada's dogged defending and Villa, starting a game for the first time since his return from injury, was seen as being reprimanded by Messi in the 44th minute for not making a pass into the middle quickly enough.
The two traded barbs for the next twenty seconds and Villa was substituted early on the in the second half as well.
Vilanova, however, refused to read too much into the exchange and prefered to focus on his side's perfect start to the season. The Blaugrana won for the fifth time in the league and have opened up a comfortable 11-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid.
"There is nothing to gather [from what happened between Villa and Messi]," Vilanova stated at his post-match press conference.
"Whoever plays football knows discussions are a normality, and part of the game.
"Such occurrences are common signs that a team is alive. Not exchanging views for betterment would honestly suggest worse.
"What was important was to make it 15 points out of 15."
Messi also spoke on Barca TV to reassure fans that there was nothing amiss between him and Villa: "Do not look for problems where there are none. Villa and I get along very well, it was just normal banter during games."
Barcelona next face Sevilla at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in the La Liga while Real face Rayo away on Sunday.