Lionel Messi an ‘outrageous’ talent Barcelona are lucky to have says Pep Guardiola after win over Real Madrid
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hailed freescoring playmaker Lionel Messi following the Argentinian’s starring role in their tetchy 2-0 Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Real Madrid as an “outrageous” talent the Catalans are lucky to have.
A class apart: Lionel Messi's second goal for Barcelona in their win over Real Madrid turned an ugly match in to a thing of beauty Photo: REUTERS
By Telegraph staff and agencies 12:19AM BST 28 Apr 2011
Messi scored both goals in the 2-0 victory at the Bernabeu, the second of which was a breathtaking individual effort, to take his tally to an astonishing 52 in all competitions for Barca this season.
It also saw him move up to third in Barca’s all-time list of record goalscorers, with 179, leaving him behind only Cesar Rodriguez (235) and Ladislau Kubala (194).
“That’s the good fortune that we have, to be able to be a colleague of his,” Guardiola said.
A disappointing, foul laden match was decorated by the Argentinian twice late in the second half after Pepe had been harshly sent off for a foul on Daniel Alves.
His second goal especially will live long in the memory, though Guardiola was not surprised, claiming the wondrous slalom through the heart of the Real defence is repeated at Barcelona’s training ground when Messi has the ball.
“It’s not the first time he has done it,” the coach said.
“At the age of just 23 he is the third highest scorer in the history of Barca. It’s outrageous.
“But that’s the beauty of our football and our game.”
pep guardiola, lionel messi, telegraph staff, kubala, real madrid, good fortune, tetchy, bernabeu, thing of beauty, playmaker, catalans, slalom, scorer, champions league, colleague, tally, competitions, second half, match, barcelona
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário