Xabi Alonso once explained how difficult it is to defend Messi when he plays as a false nine.
The former Real Madrid midfielder spent five trophy-filled years at the Bernabeu, playing against Messi on ten occasions between 2009 and 2014.
Most of the time, his team struggled to contain the Argentine magician. In fact, Barcelona will win six out of a possible ten games, while Jose Mourinho has managed just two.
Alonso previously said that Real Madrid only began to control Messi when the Spaniard was marking Barcelona’s main force throughout the game.
“Me, Mourinho and Sergio Ramos talk about him a lot,” he said in 2017. “We only started to control Messi when I marked him. We sacrificed positioning to let me mark him, but once we controlled Messi, the game became terrible.” Even. “
Alonso, who has transformed Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen since taking over as head coach last October, also opened up about his rivalry with Messi in a riveting interview. coach’s voice.
Here, the former Spain international uses a tactical board to show how Lionel Messi would play the false nine role.
Xabi Alonso will tell you how difficult it is to defend Lionel Messi when he plays as a false nine.
This is the best thing you’ll hear today. 🇪🇸🙌
🎥 @Coach’s Voice pic.twitter.com/sqmVmG5Hfu
— Football Tweet⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 23, 2023
The former Liverpool man also explained how difficult it is to defend him. “He was, like, a false nine – you know, people know a lot about false nines,” Alonso said.
“But Xavi used to come here to get the ball and when I went over to press him – this space – Messi came from the nine position to this position behind me.
“They used to play me two against one and (Sergio) Ramos came to press Messi and there used to be a big space created there and when Messi got (the ball), he Often played for (David) Villa or Pedro. That position.”
The 41-year-old said Real Madrid would eventually adapt to Barcelona’s tactics under Pep Guardiola, so they quickly found the best way to contain Messi.
He continued: “That was… when we started to control this better, I think Ramos said, ‘Xabi, Messi is coming.'” I didn’t go to press Xavi, and I Will stay with Messi.
“They’ve had more control in the past, but they haven’t been as dangerous. When we have better control of that situation, I think we’re closer to competing with them.