Quotes About Messi

Lionel Messi produced another dazzling display as Barcelona came from behind to defeat Valencia, while Athletic Bilbao beat Malaga and Atletico Madrid were held by Sporting Gijon.

Messi was in irresistible form with four goals for Barcelona in their 5-1 victory over third-placed Valencia.

Valencia silenced the Camp Nou faithful by taking the lead inside ten minutes, with Pablo Piatti taking advantage of uncertainty in the Barca defence to provide the finish to Sofiane Feghouli’s right-wing cross.

Messi drew Barca level midway through the first half when he reacted quickly to a loose ball to fire a shot underneath goalkeeper Diego Alves from a tight angle.

The Argentine superstar showed his sharpness again six minutes later to put Barcelona in front as he scooped the ball into the roof of the net from close range after Alves had kept out his initial effort.

A series of fine saves from Alves, as well as the woodwork, kept Valencia in with a chance until Messi completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a neat finish on the rebound after Cristian Tello had been denies.

There was still time for Messi to race clear of the visiting defence and chip home for a fourth, and then for Xavi to dink in a fifth, to leave Barca ten points behind fierce rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table.

Barcelona striker David Villa has hailed team-mate Lionel Messi, saying the Argentina captain is incomparable to other footballers. The 24-year-old Messi has been in a rich vein of form this season and his hat-trick in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Atletico Madrid has put him at the top of La Liga’s scoring charts with eight goals.

Messi has said he is looking to surpass Cesar Rodriguez’s scoring record for Barcelona, and while Villa played down individual feats, he noted that the diminutive forward is in a league of his own. “Messi does incredible things,” Villa told reporters. “His stats make you cover your eyes. He cannot be compared to anyone. We are delighted.” The 29-year-old Villa, who has scored five goals in all competitions this season, stressed he is happy with life at Camp Nou. “Being at this club is a symptom of happiness,” Villa said. “I am very happy both on and off the field and I hope to stay here for many more years.” “I am not used to being a substitute, but in the dressing room there are 15 or 16 players who are not used to it either.”

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has highlighted similarities between Robin van Persie and Barcelona star Lionel Messi, following the former’s latest brace for Arsenal.

“I see similarities, positional-wise, with Messi,” said Wenger. “He likes to come deep and he likes to turn up, up front. Don’t make me make a comparison with Messi but it is just that positional-wise he is not really like the real centre forward.

Wayne Rooney has revealed he is still reeling from the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, but has claimed it would be difficult for Lionel Messi to have the same devastating impact if he played in the Premier League.

On defeat in the showpiece Wembley final Rooney said: ‘It hurt. I watched the game again because you can always learn by watching football. It was very disappointing but you have to put your hands up and say they were the better team.
‘They are the best team I’ve seen and Lionel Messi the best player. I think he got three nutmegs in the first-half. On my PlayStation I can make him do what I want but he’s even better in real life. The speed he moves his legs, in fact his whole body, is amazing.

Asked if Messi could dictate games in the England as he does in Spain, Rooney said: ‘If you bring Xavi and Iniesta with him, yes. But it would be difficult, almost impossible for him to play as he does in Spain. ‘The game is more physical here, going to the likes of Birmingham and Stoke away is very demanding. Cristiano Ronaldo is more suited to the English game than Messi. Cristiano is taller and good in the air.’ Messi wins them games but Xavi and Andres Inesta destroy you. They are simply a fantastic team, a very special side. That’s the level we want to be at and we have to up our game to achieve this. The manager will be doing what he can to see we do this.’

Pep Guardiola has labelled Lionel Messi as the best player he has ever seen following Barcelona’s resounding 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League final. The Catalan side steamrollered United at Wembley and Messi, who scored his 53rd goal of the season to put his team 2-1 up, orchestrated proceedings in London. Now, his manager Guardiola has insisted that the Argentine is a one-off phenomenon.

He told The Sun: “Lionel is the best player I’ve ever seen, probably the best ever. He made the difference. “Messi is unique, a one-off. I just hope he doesn’t get fed up. When he doesn’t play well it is because something is wrong with his environment. Let’s hope he can continue playing well.”

The 40-year old also dismissed speculation that the victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side was to be his last as Barca manager, though he did admit that the job was often difficult. He said: “If you play this football you need these players. At another club maybe I would have a problem to find these kind of players. I feel privileged to have these players. Everyone has worked towards this. We are very happy. “I will say it again, I have another year on my contract and I intend to work it out. “You have girls falling at your feet when you win but that can change overnight but I have to look inside of me. I am happy to be here as coach of these guys but it is not an easy job.”

Meanwhile Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson labelled Barcelona “the best team I have faced” after his side’s 3-1 defeat in the Champions League final. “Nobody’s given us a hiding like that but they deserve it,” Ferguson said. “They play the right way and they enjoy their football. They do mesmerise you with their passing and we never really did control Messi. But many people have said that. “In my time as manager, it’s the best team I’ve faced.”

Lionel Messi’s father has criticized the approach of Jose Mourinho following Real Madrid’s defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. Argentina national team coach Sergio Batista believes that Lionel Messi is on course to establishing himself as the greatest footballer ever

After the match, Mourinho complained about the referee’s decision to send Pepe off in the early minutes of the second half for his challenge on Daniel Alves and claimed that it was a “scandal” at the Bernabeu. The father of Lionel Messi, Jorge, has now given his take on the matter and says that Mourinho was wrong to vent in the manner he did after the clash.

“It was bad, very bad,” said Jorge Messi, according to Goal.com Spain. “I can understand that the game was heated. “I cannot tell if it was right to show him [Pepe] the red card or not but I agree that it was the turning point. But until then, Madrid played badly. “Mourinho’s approach was very conservative,” he added.

Jorge was delighted to watch his son Lionel score both the goals, the second one of the finest strikes in a Clasico. “I told him [Lionel] that they would win 2-0 and that he would score both the goals,” enthused Jorge, who then jokingly added: “Paul the Octopus is useless, you have to listen to me.”

Messi’s national team coach Batista was at the game last night and was left mesmerised with what he saw.

“We saw the Messi we all know and love,” said Batista, according to Reuters. “He’s on his way to becoming the best player in history. Given what we already know and because he surpasses himself day by day, he’s already the best in the world. I left the stadium telling myself, ‘Thank God players like Xavi and Messi exist’. They give you goose bumps, they thrill anyone.”