When you say the name Iniesta, people will throw their respect signs up and all pay homage to how exceptionally brilliant he is. But what if I never was to even bring the name up? Does Iniesta really get mentioned in the same breath as Messi, Cristina or Neymar?
Nope.
And that really sucks.
Iniesta turned thirty-two yesterday, and this past season he's playing like if he was still twenty-five. Hasn't lost a step, and is producing some magic with his feet that only the true football fan will notice. For his position, I can't think of many players on his level or even better than him.
And I wasn't always a fan.
When Pep was about and had his Barcelona dominance, with Messi being announced to the world; I said it numerous times in my videos that Messi ran the team. His goals, and assists and just how he was involved in every Barcelona attack, I viewed them as pretty much a one-man team. Not to the extent of the Cannibal and Liverpool, but it was close to that. Lionel Richie was the very heart and soul of the team and what won them games.
Or so I thought.
Upon revisiting that Pep era, people don't give Iniesta's role enough credit. If you were to take him out of that team, I don't think Barcelona win as many games. Because a lot of the goals that Messi scored where he was breaking record after record, came from Iniesta. When looking at the matches closely, this wasn't a case of Ronaldo at Inter Milan where he litereally would just steamroll his way through. Messi combined a lot with Xavi and Iniesta, and was very reliant on them.
It's with this season that has passed where I have seen just how amazing Iniesta is. With Xavi gone, more responsibility has fallen on his shoulders as well as being the captain. He has now been required to marshall the midfield along with Rakitic, and be the that link between midfield and attack. And just you try and get the ball off Iniesta without having to use a knuckle-buster and knock his teeth out.
Iniesta definitely deserves some more respeck put on his name. HH
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