Messi and Barça hungry for more

Lionel Messi will have worse seasons. A domestic double, a decisive goal in the UEFA Champions League final, the accolade of being named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and a UEFA Super Cup triumph all came the way of the diminutive forward in recent months. Real Madrid CF's lavish spending spree will present a new challenge to Messi and his Barcelona team-mates both domestically and on the continent this season, but the 22-year-old Argentinian appeared unfazed when he spoke to uefa.com ahead of the start of the new European campaign.

uefa.com: Barça reached the pinnacle last season. What will you do to maintain that level this year?

Messi: We have to start again and take little steps like we did last year. We have to try to maintain the same things that we did before, our own football, well-structured with the same discipline.

uefa.com: Is a repeat of last season's success possible?

Messi: I don't know, it is very difficult. Last season was something very few clubs have achieved in the history of football, so it is very difficult to repeat that for a second year. We have to take little steps like we did last year, take it game by game and see how far we get.

uefa.com: Does the prospect of the UEFA Champions League final being played in the Santiago Bernabéu provide added motivation?

Messi: The Champions League is always a special thing, it is the most important and beautiful competition. But we also know it is a very long and difficult league, so you have to play well to get there.

uefa.com: Do you have any special memories of lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy?

Messi: The truth is that until the match, it had been a day like any other. Like always, we were very relaxed and we had a lot of faith in ourselves. We knew we were favourites because of all that had happened in that year. After the game there was a lot of joy, celebrating and happiness so it is a very fond memory.

uefa.com: What do you remember about your goal?

Messi: It was beautiful. It is always nice to score a goal, especially in this game, in this final. It is something you can't imagine, something you dream about.

uefa.com: Barça won the UEFA Champions League and the treble last year without ever ignoring the club's principles. What does this philosophy mean to the players and staff?

Messi: It means a lot. It is important for us to maintain this same football. Every player knows his role, from the goalkeeper to the very last player in the squad. This makes the work for everybody on the pitch easier.

uefa.com: Barcelona have signed Zlatan Ibrahimović. How will playing with him differ to playing with Samuel Eto'o?

Messi: He is a player with a lot of quality. He plays differently to Samuel. He is new, so he has to get used to us and we have to adapt to him as well, so we can understand him better. Apart from his quality, he is also big physically, so we will see how he suits his role as Barcelona's new attacker.

uefa.com: A lot happened at Madrid this summer. Are you worried about their new signings or do you think it is good for Spanish football?

Messi: Yes, it is good for Real Madrid and Spanish football. Great players have arrived and they can form a great team. They will be very hard to beat.

uefa.com: Matches between Barça and Madrid promise to be very intriguing ...

Messi: Yes, that's true. Matches between Barça and Real Madrid are always special and these ones will be even more so because I think the teams are very balanced.

uefa.com: On a personal level, were you able to rest over the summer after so many matches in so many different competitions? Are you starting this season rested and strong?

Messi: Yes, I have had a good pre-season – I took some time to do some physical work. That is important because with so many games during the year we don't have the chance to train a lot because you travel so much with the squad. What I have done is good in terms of maintaining me for the rest of the year.

uefa.com: Are you near to being at your peak?

Messi: I don't know. I hope to continue to grow on a football level, continue to learn many more things and to win more titles.

uefa.com: You were recently named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year. What does this mean to you?

Lionel Messi: It is an enormous joy to receive such a great and very important prize. It is a pleasure to hear about all the people who have voted for me.

uefa.com: Are you now favourite to win the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards?

Messi: I don't know, we'll have to wait and see. Barcelona had a great season last year and all my team-mates deserve recognition for all that they've done.