Messi talks Barcelona, Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Maradona, Argentina, World Cup

Former Barcelona captain and current Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi recently sat down for a candid chat on Universo Valdano on Movistar+.

Heading into the FIFA World Cup 2022, which he has already confirmed could be his last, the Argentina captain discussed various topics including his favourites to win the tournament in Qatar, his tenure at Barcelona, his relationship with the managers he has played under, and much more.

Early period at Barcelona

Messi arrived at Barcelona way back in 2001, when he was just 13 years old, after having had a trial in late 2000. Given his age, the move from Argentina to Spain was going to be tricky for the icon, which he admitted in the interview.

“I was in Barcelona for 15 days doing trials. For me it was spectacular to be at Barça. They gave you clothes, boots… You started training and they gave you a ball so you could warm up on your own. I had never seen anything like that. I was impressed,” he said.

“I struggled in the dressing room but once I got on the pitch the problems were over. I missed going out on the street and playing like I used to do it in Argentina,” Messi added.

Talking about the shift in dynamics in terms of training sessions after his move to La Masia, he said: “Personally and in terms of football, coming to Barcelona was an extraordinary change. When I was in Argentina, I only ran but I hardly played with the ball. Then I came to Barcelona and all the training sessions were with the ball.”

Upon arrival, Messi was unable to play for Barça’s Infantils immediately due to some transfer conflicts with his former club Newell’s Old Boys, which affected his adaptation at the club.

“I had a very difficult year. I was six months without being able to play and when I came back, I was injured again,” Messi recalled.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner revealed that there was a point when his father asked him if he wanted to return to Argentina, but he stuck it out at Barcelona. “One day, my father asked me if I wanted to go back. I said ‘no’. I had done the most difficult part, which was adapting.”

Soon enough though, things turned around and Messi was quickly fast-tracked to the first-team setup in 2004. Talking about his swift progress through the ranks, he said:

“I was 14 years old when I signed for Barcelona, the first year was already spectacular. The next year I was promoted. In two years I was already training with the first team, with Barça B… it was all very fast.”

On his first experience with the senior team, Messi stated: “Before the Gamper I had already done the preseason with Rijkaard in Asia. At that time, Márquez, Ronaldinho, and Eto’o were playing for Barça. That Gamper against Juve changed everything. It changed the look of the club towards me.”

The Argentina captain also revealed how the senior players in the squad at the time helped him adapt, saying: “Ronaldinho, Deco, Motta, Sylvinho, Xavi, Puyol… They all made me feel like one of them from the start. The way they treated me was great. It’s not easy to come into a dressing room like that and be able to integrate normally.”

The Guardiola era

While Messi have made his breakthrough under Frank Rijkaard, it was under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola that the 35-year-old was elevated to the status of the world’s best.

Between 2008 and 2012, Guardiola’s Barcelona, spearheaded by Messi, along with icons like Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, among several others, dominated the European footballing scenes like no other.

Recalling that period, Messi said: “The Guardiola era was an extraordinary period. Everything happened. Guardiola comes in, with what he taught us and made us grow as a team. He found a generation of players that was unique. It was impressive.”

“With Guardiola, we were going to play anywhere and we knew we were going to win, whoever the team was. We knew what to do, how to do it, we knew everything. We had painful defeats, but we were always confident,” he added.

Reflecting on everything they achieved under Guardiola, Messi stated: “With Guardiola, we made things so easy, and it was so natural that we didn’t realise what we were doing. As time goes by, you realise it was unique what we achieved.”

Messi also spoke about one particular instance to give an idea about how Guardiola’s mind worked, as he said:

“Pep called me. He was at the Ciudad Deportiva and I was at home. I went and he told me I was going to play as a false nine against Real Madrid…. He told me ‘We’re going to do this and this’… Henry’s goal that day was exactly as he predicted.”

Hailing the former Barcelona boss as the best ever, Messi added: “Guardiola is the best coach, I have no doubt. He is special. He prepared the games like nobody else. He knew everything. I regret not having enjoyed the Guardiola era more, not having enjoyed it more with him.”

“I always liked having the ball at my feet. I loved having Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets next to me. It was all so much easier,” he further said.

Time with Luis Enrique

Barcelona handed over the reins to Luis Enrique two years after Guardiola had stepped away. And Lucho helped the club reach great heights during his stint at Camp Nou. And Messi claimed that there were a lot of similarities between how the two managers operated.

“Luis Enrique is very similar to Guardiola. Guardiola has something special but Luis Enrique is similar in the way he prepares and reads the game. He looks for the gaps to hurt the opponent. He had the same philosophy.”

The PSG ace admits to have had an argument with Enrique at one point during their time together at the club, but insisted that everything worked out well and he enjoyed playing under the current Spain manager.

“Luis Enrique and I had an argument but then we sorted it out. I’m a person who says what I think. I have never been false to anyone. I have been wrong a thousand times, and I will continue to be wrong. But we are humans,” he said.

“Luis Enrique was very important to me. I was very happy with him. The Spanish national team is what Luis Enrique wants. Everyone recognises his great work.”

Argentina national team

Messi has broken all sorts of records playing for the Argentina national team, but until last year, he was unable to win any trophies with La Albiceleste. That changed when he led them to the Copa America 2021 triumph.

“After so much, an impressive moment has arrived with the national team. There were so many years and so many disappointments… that’s why I cried at this last Copa America,” Messi reminisced.

The 35-year-old also spoke about working with another Argentine legend, Diego Maradona, who was the manager of the national team for a brief period.

“The time with Maradona as coach was spectacular. We arrived at the World Cup suffering, but I think the whole process was very nice, even though it ended the way it did. It was very good for him too. The way he enjoyed being with us, the day-to-day.”

On the current Argentina manager, Lionel Scaloni, Messi said: “Scaloni has always had a very special personality. He’s a very good coach. The best thing about him is his communication and how he manages the group.”

“Scaloni is convinced and doesn’t look at what others say. The way he treats the player makes the group what it is today.”

World Cup

Argentina are in a good moment heading into the World Cup and are seen as one of the favourites by many, including Barcelona’s midfield prodigy, Pedri.

Responding to being considered as one of the favourites, Messi said: “We didn’t have many clashes against European teams. I think we’re in a good moment but we must not fall into the error of people’s madness and believe we’re favourites to win the World Cup. We have to be realistic and take it step by step.”

When asked who he considers as major contenders to win the coveted trophy, the Argentina skipper named reigning champions France, South American rivals Brazil and Spain as potential victors.

“Despite the injuries, I think France have a great team for the World Cup. Brazil have great players, they have Ney. They have a good team for the World Cup.

“Spain is a team that is very clear about their style. They make you run, they get the ball out and they have players with a lot of quality. Spain have a lot of it and they play the same way every game, no matter who the opponent is,” he said.

On the evolution of football

Having had a long career at the highest level, Messi has seen football change over the years and believes that the game will continue to evolve further.

“I think football has changed a lot. It’s more difficult to see a player who is different, who is out of the ordinary… Because from a young age you are forced to play in a certain way. And that’s the problem.”

“Football is going to be more and more tactical. You can see nowadays that any team can make it difficult for any team without having great players, but playing well tactically and in an organised way. But then it will be more complicated to see ‘extraordinary’ players.”