I don't want this to be a lovefest of Messi, hence why this will be more balanced as there was a way Pep and Bayern could have avoided such happening. But let me start with a little bit of praise, because I would be foolish to not applaud what Messi did. Anyone who DARES put that dude called Cristina in the same sentence as Messi should never be allowed to talk football ever again. Let's even not talk about the G's he scored.
Bayern and Pep must have known this from the start. You have to try and take Messi out of the equation, and then sort out Cannibal and Neymar. So why was Messi allowed to dictate things and create plays, pick off passes and just be a total nuisance for Bayern? Haha, because Pep decided it would really be clever and smart by playing three at the back and literally invite the pressure onto them. It has to probably one of THE worst managerial decisions that I've seen in a long time. You DON'T defend against this Barcelona team man-to-man.
It was changed, and Bayern were lucky to not already be trailing. So it was up to Messi to try and help and inspire his team. And this was not about waiting for scraps, and looking for a tap-in. When Dani Alves won the ball, Messi was in the right spot and struck the ball FROM OUTSIDE the box, and it was the bounce that beat Neuer who made two great saves. Bayern fans, it could have easily been more if not for Manuel.
Then it came another reminder as to why Robben and Messi are on another attacking level from any other player on the planet. The dribble was so bad, he made a GROWN man fall to the ground, and then with Neuer having a good game, Lionel had to quieten him down by delivering a delicious chip from a HARD angle, with his RIGHT foot.
A stupid G. I had too applaud and say that was just amazing. But...and yes, there is a but, which is what you won't get in any other article written about Messi after this match. This could all have been avoided.
As I have commented, you don't stop Messi by being one-on-one with him. He will beat you. The way you stop him is defending like a team. Being positionally disciplined and giving him no space whatsoever to move. That is what you need to do as a foundation. You need to make him WORK for his plays, not just breeze and allowing him to have as much time as he feels like.
Bayern fans have to be pissed off. To lose by three G's and nothing to show for it, is unacceptable, even with injuries. But I have to give credit where it is due, and game recognises game. Lionel scored a very special goal, and one that will be remembered and will make people watch again and again. Can't say that for the Portuguese goalscorer. At the end of the day, it comes down to history. In the long run, people will look back at this goal, just like Zidane's and Maradona's and Robben's, as special goals in big games. THAT is what history remembers.
BREAKING NEWS: Boateng has moved a little bit, but is still confined to the grass surface of the Nou Camp. More news as we hear it.
HH
Sent from the Hut
