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Ex-Atletico Defender Luis Reveals Best Ways To Defend Against Messi

Ex-Atletico Defender Luis Reveals Best Ways To Defend Against Messi

Former Atletico Madrid and Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis has revealed how he used to stop Lionel Messi during his Atletico Madrid days.

Luis, 35, who now plays for Brazilian giant Flamengo reckons that Messi ‘liked’ being on the end of his horror tackles.

He admitted his admiration for Messi – the ‘best player’ he has seen play, but he had an aggressive way of showing it.

He hold the Mail: “One day I would like to ask Messi what it felt like playing against me.

“I approached it as the most important game in my life against him because he was the best player I have seen play.

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“Messi had a thing – and I studied him a lot – that was very important. He improvises.

“He doesn’t have the dribble in his mind before the ball gets to him.

“He watches the defender’s movement and depending on your body position, he goes one way or the other. So first I tried not to let him receive the ball.

“When he received with his back to me, there would be a hard challenge and because he’s so strong, so resistant, because he doesn’t go down looking for fouls, the foul is not given away.

“If he receives the ball facing you, one on one, it’s impossible because of that improvisation he has. You can’t plan for it, because he is watching you and can change.

“I would fake to make one challenge, one side, to try to make him go the other way, where I really wanted him.”

Luis, who now plies his trade for Flamengo after leaving Atletico in 2019, was red carded for a horror tackle on Messi during a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in January 2016.

He continued: “There were games where I went too far in terms of aggression. I was sent off. But he never had a go at me for it; he never said anything. I think he liked it, I think he liked that kind of challenge.

“In fact Barcelona called me [towards the end of his time at Atletico] so I think he must have liked my football. I’d like to know his opinion one day. My best games were always against Messi, for sure.”


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 1
  • pompei 3 years ago

    Good points by Felipe Luis. Facing Messi is a daunting task, like staring down the barrel of a gun. In addition to the points mentioned in this article, as a defender, you have to find a way to stop Messi from using his left foot. Show him the right instead. He is still deadly either way, but chances are you will fare a bit better if the ball is on his right foot.
    As Luis said, the best way to stop Messi is to block supply channels to him. Stop the ball from getting to him. If he gets the ball, you’re in trouble.

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