Thomas Vermaelen still has a Whatsapp group with his Belgium teammates at Tottenham but when it comes to Barcelona’s plans for their Champions League match at the Camp Nou on Tuesday, all concerned are keeping quiet.
“We talk all the time but they know they can’t do anything about who will play,” says the former Arsenal defender in an exclusive interview with AFP, referring to the possibility that Lionel Messi may take the night off.
That would be a massive boost for Spurs, with Barca already guaranteed to finish first in Group B, and possibly ready to rest their Argentinian star ahead of Sunday’s game against Levante, the only team to beat them in La Liga last season.
For Tottenham to reach the Champions League next round, they need to match or better the result of Group B rivals Inter Milan, faced with the easier task of winning at home to PSV Eindhoven.
Vermaelen, back from a hamstring injury, could be called on to play against an opponent he knows well and against whom he enjoyed some of his favourite moments for Arsenal in the Premier League before his move to Barcelona four years ago. Read more