Messi sets sights on Rome

Despite the 0-0 home draw with Chelsea FC in their UEFA Champions League semi-final, FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has "complete confidence we can reach the final". The 21-year-old signalled his second-leg intent as he fielded questions from uefa.com readers in a Q&A – discussing his greatest match, what it means to be compared to Diego Maradona, and his thoughts on the Ballon d'Or among other things.

After watching the Chelsea match, I felt it was almost a carbon copy of last year's semi against Manchester Utd. I am interested in knowing how you plan to break the opponent's tactical system and send Barça to the final?
Lakshman

Every good team faces difficulties that the coach, in this case Pep Guardiola, has to try to resolve. Once we're out on the pitch, it will then be up to us to make sure Barcelona reach the Champions League final – guided by our coach's instructions and our faith in our abilities.

What happened in the first leg? Why couldn't we score?
Shalva Chikovani

They created a line of four or five men, playing with a lone striker. We had opportunities to score but lacked the finish. It makes things difficult for us, as it does for any team when your rivals close you down so much. And that's what Chelsea did.

What do you expect the game at Stamford Bridge to be like and the final score?
Nura, 32, Malaysia

I'm not expecting a very open game, but with Chelsea risking more in attack that might make things a bit easier for us, because given space Barcelona are always more dangerous. I have complete confidence we can reach the final.

How do you deal with the pressure of being labelled the best player on earth, and what do you think makes you that special?
Raghu Valluri, Bangalore, India

I don't know if I'm the best player in the world. At the moment Cristiano Ronaldo has the title [FIFA World Player of the Year]. I don't pay too much attention to it. I'm not worried about it. If they want to give me the award, that's brilliant, because you have to enjoy these prizes. If not, that's absolutely fine too.

Do you feel this is your year to win the Ballon d'Or?
Julien

As I said, I don't think about it too much. I just try to play good football. If, after that, they give me the Ballon d'Or [for European Footballer of the Year], I would be delighted, but if not I won't be depressed.

How do you feel about being coached by Diego Maradona in the Argentina team? Was he your most influential player growing up?
John Vanhelder, 25, Chicago, USA

It's absolutely incredible having Diego in the dressing room, giving us instructions and motivating us. With everything he represents for Argentina and for all Argentinians, it's a source of pride and a privilege to be managed by him.

I would like to learn from the genius himself so please give me tips on how to have better ball control. How do you practise? Are there particular exercises you do?
Vishket Shriwas, 20, Mumbai India

These are not things I've developed in training – they happen on their own. I think it's something innate that I have inside me. It's not easy to practise the tricks and feints that take you past players or a certain trick with the ball. During a game I try things that sometimes come off and sometimes don't. I've loved playing football since I was a little kid and I always played with bigger boys. Perhaps that helped my learning and the development of my game a bit.

How can you change your body movement so quickly while you're running top speed? Could you already do this as a child?
Glenn Stewart, Holland

I don't know. It's something I've always done. I don't think about it. It's not like when I'm running with the ball at my feet, I'm thinking 'now I'll put the brakes on' or 'now I'll take off'. It's instinctive. Sometimes, luckily, it works out for me.

What is the most important thing you have learned this season from coach Josep Guardiola?
Feras Zahabi, 31, Syria

That this is a team and we all work for the good of the team. The other day, against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu [in the 6-2], for example, I played almost like a second striker. I almost always play out on the right, so it seemed strange to me beforehand, but I did it and it worked well for the team. So you have to think of the team and leave individualism to one side.

You have said you wish to spend your entire career at Barcelona. However, the Premier League is widely seen as the best in the world. Could you ever be tempted to take the challenge of playing in the English league at some stage?
Mark Douglas

The football in England is great, just as it is in Spain, but for now I'm very settled and I feel really valued at Barcelona. I know the Premiership is a great league, but Barcelona is a big part of my life and I'm not thinking of anything else. With time, we'll see. You never know.

What is the best Champions League goal you have seen?
Nasir Mahammed

I have seen a lot. I couldn't name just one. But the goal I liked best of all was the one Maradona scored against England at Mexico '86. As we say in Argentina: it will never be equalled.

Who is your favourite player in the world?
Boubacar Bah, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Just now I don't have a favourite. There are lots in all positions. In this season's Champions League we have seen classy defenders, solid goalkeepers, playmakers and holding midfielders, out-and-out strikers or strikers who have a gift for assisting their team-mates. I don't really believe in the idea of one best player in the world because they all have different characteristics.

What's on your mind when you are dribbling around opponents?
Fauzi Sujet D'Alessandro, Sepang, Malaysia

You don't think. You just live the moment, as I said earlier. I try to do my best to arrive in front of goal. On my way there, I dodge and check as I see fit. My thinking isn't premeditated.

What was your best match so far?
Gloria Wong, 27, Hong Kong

I am very self-critical and I don't have one special game. I should think about it more carefully, but my memory's not very good and I'm not one for details. Perhaps the 3-3 draw with Real Madrid in Barcelona, when I scored three goals. Or this Saturday, at the Bernabéu, because it's very difficult to go there and we achieved something historic. We scored six goals at their place and I got two. But hopefully there will be other better games. That's what I'm always working for.

How do you prepare yourself mentally for a big match, like the Champions League semi-finals?
Evan Oyler

We're focused on achieving the outcome we want, the rest is just about continuity. In reality Sunday was the first day we could put everything into preparing for the semi-final second leg. But that's it. Now our minds are completely on Chelsea.

I am 13 and my dream is to become a great footballer and play alongside you for FC Barcelona. I train hard every day and take my football very seriously. What advice do you have for me?
Arsalan Shomali

That you enjoy yourself doing it. Football is a sport that gives you pleasure, and at times sadness, but you have to try to enjoy it at all times. There's nothing more wonderful than playing football. Play with your friends, with people you know, with everybody you can. And if you're going to be a professional, take it very seriously because, for all that it's a beautiful game, this is where you start to have duties and you have to be ready to take them on.

How does it feel when you score a goal?
Estefani De La Cruz, 17, Houston, Texas, USA

It's difficult to explain. It's a lovely feeling. It's an explosion which comes from inside you and makes you want to share it with everyone around you. Even more so if you do it in an important game, because you can't express it through your mouth or your arms. You have to live it in person to understand.

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you receive the ball?
Raymond Klucik, Golden, USA

As soon as I have the ball, I already know I must look for the best option to pass it or take it on, always remembering I'm at the service of an eleven-man team. I know that it depends to some extent on me whether the ball ends up as a goal or not.

Do you have any superstitions in preparing for a match?
Anselmo Rios, Arizona, USA

No, I don't have superstitions. Before games I think about the people I love, but it's not superstition. It's just because it does me good to think that they're with me – nothing more. I'm not the kind to wear lucky charms or that kind of thing.

What key areas in your game would you like to improve on?
Selina Saricyan

You always have to try to improve and I promise I'm trying to do that. For example, I would like to be a better header, and perhaps to be able to pre-empt the defender, because I realise I'm not tall. I'm also practising striking the ball better. I don't like to make do with what I have and no more.

What do you say to people who compare you to Diego Maradona?
Ronald S Reyes, 20, USA

It makes me very proud, but there was only one Maradona and there will never be another like him. I always say it: I can't compare myself to him because he was extraordinary, one of a kind, the most complete player. It has been brilliant to meet him. But I don't compare myself.

Who inspired you as a boy and what encouraged you to fight for your place even when people discouraged you because of your size?
Jisoo Kim

You always have to overcome things in life and the difficulty with my physique was one of them. My parents and Barcelona helped a lot. To be honest, I don't know if I really stopped to think too carefully about it. At the time I wanted to play football and that wasn't going to get in my way.

What were some of the difficulties you had to overcome in your career?
Nathan, 18, London, UK

I always had the support of my family and my team-mates. Football is a beautiful thing and difficulties have to be overlooked because there is always more to enjoy than there is to put up with. In any case, if there is a problem, it gives you greater strength to carry on.