Former Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella spoke today for the first time since the end of the 2014 World Cup, as he praised Lionel Messi on the 10th anniversary of the Albiceleste captain’s debut for Barcelona.
Sabella had stepped down from the national team helm following the Brazil tournament, where he took Argentina to a final defeat against Germany fired by four goals from the brilliant No. 10.
«Messi is one of the world’s great players, and we are lucky to see him week in, week out. He is one of the best players of all time,» the coach told Barcelona radio station Esports Cope.
According to his former trainer, stars like ‘La Pulga’ «are players that only come along from time to time.»
«His capacity for unbalancing the opposition defence is his greatest quality. From there come the amount of goals he scores and the assists he provides.»
Continuing with the praise for Messi, who 10 years ago to the day appeared for the first time in a professional match as a substitute for Deco against Catalan rivals Espanyol, Sabella detailed the impact that the Rosario player has on both his team-mates and opponents.
«His team-mates know that he can win a game, he can help win a match, and his opponents are scared of what he can do to them. He is a decisive, incredible player,» he affirmed.
«[Messi] is so extraordinary that that we think only he has that effect.»
As well as the diminutive forward, Sabella took the opportunity to recognise his team-mate in both Barca and the Albiceleste, midfielder Javier Mascherano.
«Mascherano is the only Argentine player with two Olympic [gold] medals. It makes me proud to have trained him and Messi, I must have been touched by a magic wand to get that opportunity,» he stated.
buenosairesherald.com