Ignoring the 230 goals he’s scored for FC Barcelona, the Argentine star told FIFA.com that head coach Pep Guardiola is the main reason for the club’s amazing success in recent years.
“Guardiola is more important than me, without doubt,” Messi said. “Since he arrived at the club, he has changed everything. We have won so much and for me Guardiola is a fundamental part of our project.”
The part about Messi putting down his own abilities was a (poor) joke, but his praise for Guardiola is very real. The Barcelona boss has guided the club to the most successful period in its storied history. Since taking over the manager’s job in 2008, Guardiola has won 13 major trophies.
It is not only the winning that has brought so much glory to the club, but it’s also that Barcelona has won by playing in its own distinctive style that can only be described as “the Barcelona way.” Messi credits Guardiola, who was steeped in the club’s philosophy as a player and coach, for implementing such a style on the first team.
“You look at what he has won and, more than that, the way in which he has won it,” Messi added. “If Barca play as they do, it is because he wants us to play that way.”
Do you agree with Messi’s assertion that Guardiola is more important to Barcelona than he is?
Is head coach Pep Guardiola more important to Barcelona’s success than star player Lionel Messi?
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