10 - Lionel Messi - v3

[antonnn]

For all the differences in philosophy between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, the Chelsea manager has revealed they are in agreement about one grand aspect of the modern game: Leo Messi is unstoppable, and the best anyone can do is just try and make it as difficult as possible for the Argentine.

Mourinho also believes that Messi alone would be capable of lifting any of the major clubs to the Champions League trophy, regardless of how far off Barcelona and Bayern Munich they currently are.

"I am saying that a team with that boy is a different team, is a different story," Mourinho said on Friday.

It certainly seemed like a new chapter to even Messi's remarkable story on Wednesday night, as he tore Bayern Munich apart with two brilliantly devastating goals, before setting up Neymar for a 3-0 victory.

It confirmed Bayern manager Pep Guardiola's pregame belief -- and fear -- that Messi is unstoppable.

Mourinho evidently agrees with that but felt no fear or envy that he wasn't involved in such a game, as he failed to reach the Champions League semifinal for the first time since 2009. He felt only awe, and visceral thrill at the nature of Messi's performance.

"This season was the first season for many, many years that I wasn't there, but, watching Messi, you don't miss being there!" the Chelsea manager stated.

Jose Mourinho has admitted, while there's no stopping Lionel Messi, making a game difficult is the only option.
"You enjoy it so much that you don't think about not being there. You just think about what the guy did."

Mourinho revealed it's not the only time Messi has given him cause for thought, but he didn't usually get to enjoy it. In what was a rare insight into how he plans for such games, the Portuguese said that the Barca playmaker had left him perplexed, before eventually concluding a defensive bulwark and a little luck were the best he could do.

"Every time I played against Messi, I spent hours studying and trying to stop him," Mourinho said. "Many times, we were successful, other times we were not successful.

"With Inter [in the 2010 Champions League semifinal], we stopped him in both matches -- Inter-Barcelona and Barcelona-Inter. The best way to [usually approach] is man-to-man because that is better than involving everyone," he continued.

"When you go man-to-man you go with similar power, although man-to-man with him is an impossible job. Like I say, sometimes I was successful, sometimes I was not successful."

"Every time I was thinking about how best [to] collectively -- I am not saying stop him -- give him a difficult match. I think this is the correct word. It is not about stopping him but giving him a difficult match. That is the best you do against him."

Mourinho also argued Messi makes the very idea of systems almost irrelevant. That certainly seemed the case for Bayern on Wednesday, as the playmaker eventually laid waste to Guardiola's plans.

On the other side, though, Luis Enrique's entire gameplan with Barcelona at this point appears to boil down to the imperious form of Messi.

"People think in the wrong way," Mourinho said. "One thing is a team. Another thing is a team with Messi. It is a different story. He [made] a Champions League final with [Frank] Rijkaard. He played a Champions League with Guardiola. He [if it goes as expected] is playing a Champions League final with Luis Enrique.

"So, when people analyse teams, you have to remember that this boy makes everything different. He makes everything different.

"I think this guy makes the gap by himself. You have doubts that [Manchester] City with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Arsenal with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Chelsea with Messi can win the Champions League? Or Man United with Messi can win the Champions League? Don't you think? I think.

"I am saying that a team with that boy is a different team, is a different story."

The whole thing for those who haven't seen it. If he was trying to get back in the good books with Barca he'd compliment the team. I'm sure he knows he's never welcome there, but that doesn't mean he cannot compliment the best club player of all time.

 

[Dinho]

It was only a few months ago that half of you guys were bitching about The GOAT. Now he seeks justice.

 

[Clks]

Whatever people say about him he proves again and again that he is the most consistently lethal player in the game right now and probably ever. And i think that is what separates him from any other player, he is consistently dismantling defenses no matter how good or bad they are supposed to be. And for once i agree with Mourinho, he is a game changer. All Barca needs to do is keep him happy.

 

[Alik]

Mourinho also praised Gerrard in an interview ahead of the last match he'll ever face him in.

 

[FCBarca]

He wants to hurt Cristiano and Guardiola. Pretty obvious. Dont need this kind of false praise.

Exactly, don't take the bait from the master manipulator - he always has an agenda, has little to do with Messi

 

[Clks]

I think you guys look too much into it. Mou doesn't really have anything to gain by dissing Pep or Cristiano at this point(possible clash against one or the other next season ?).

Also his two points are true

• Pep wouldn't be as successful without Messi
• Cristiano isn't quite as impactful as Messi when it comes to important games (implied by Mou)

Don't forget that Pep's system in the four years he coached Barca was centered around Messi being a false nine. His whole system was successful because Messi was doing Messi things, regardless of Pep realizing that Messi could work in that position in the first place.

About Cristiano, the main difference is the level of impact both of these players have in very demanding games against difficult opponents, Cristiano is great at finishing goal opportunities but not necessarily creating them when his team needs it most, unlike Messi. Messi can both finish good opportunities and create them at the same time. Some might argue that Cristiano is a better goal scorer but overall i think Messi has a bigger impact in the game just because he can do more things on the pitch that result in a goal. Therefore, Messi would have a bigger overall impact in any team aiming for a CL win as Mou said.

 

[Tiny Kim]

Exactly, don't take the bait from the master manipulator - he always has an agenda, has little to do with Messi

I don't know about bait in this situation. But I do remember him talking about his admiration for Suarez before a LFC vs Chelsea match and then whining about how terrible Suarez is after the match. LOL!

 

[antonnn]

Wasn't that cause Suarez dived a bunch of times during that game? Or played dirty?(still hypocritical as Mou has some dirty guys in the team ) I can't remember exactly. Priase of skill then complained about antics, it's different, but I could be wrong I can't totally remember what was said or what happened.

 

[Don Andrésº8]

i really think that mou wants messi so bad

 

[raskolnikov]

I have watched the goals like 50 times now since Wednesday. wasnt so happy with Messi's brilliance in important games since the 4-0 win over Milan I think.
I hope he scores another few today.

 

[Flavia]

Best "club" player is really a bad, undermining terminology. He is the best player, not club player. Not winning a wc won't change that.


[tw]597015235791351808[/tw]

 

[NotInHere]

Best "club" player is really a bad, undermining terminology. He is the best player, not club player.

Yeah I was confused when I read that last part of antonns post, why did he say best club player but not best player like you mentioned?

 

[Flavia]

Yeah I was confused when I read that last part of antonns post, why did he say best club player but not best player like you mentioned?

Carragher wrote a piece for the daily fail, where he used this terminology because Messi hasn't won a wc yet. I'm assuming antonnn read it and he's repeating it

But it was pretty poor of carragher, imo. Messi did help argentina reach a wc final, with a team that wasn't all that.

 

[NotInHere]

Carragher wrote a piece for the daily fail, where he used this terminology because Messi hasn't won a wc yet. I'm assuming antonnn read it and he's repeating it

But it was pretty poor of carragher, imo. Messi did help argentina reach a wc final, with a team that wasn't all that.

Oh, my mistake. Thought I read it with Antonns own words

True, even a broken up Messi led them to a wc semi-finals, that to me is quite a big accomplishment even if he didnt win the actual thing, or Argentina I mean

 

[Ghosting]

Carragher wrote a piece for the daily fail, where he used this terminology because Messi hasn't won a wc yet. I'm assuming antonnn read it and he's repeating it

But it was pretty poor of carragher, imo. Messi did help argentina reach a wc final, with a team that wasn't all that.

I think the the article was saying people reject Messi being the best player of all time because he hasn't won a world cup, therefore he said well you can't argue he isn't the best club player of all time.

Carragher was never specifically saying Messi isn't the best player of all time because no WC win, he was just saying 'oh you have a comeback to that, well then what about him being the best club player of all time'

At least that's how I read it.