Liverpool’s run-ins with Lionel Messi within the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 sparked a variety of flashpoints, with one among their former coaches not a fan.
The story of Liverpool’s comeback overcome Barcelona to achieve the ultimate of the Champions League is among the most iconic within the membership’s historical past.
That they did so in opposition to a aspect together with the world’s greatest participant, in Messi, makes the achievement much more exceptional.
Messi began each legs of the semi-final and netted twice in Barcelona’s 3-0 win on the Nou Camp, although his second – a free-kick that deflected in off Joe Gomez – got here as he in some way purchased a foul after throwing a fist at Fabinho.
At Anfield per week later, Andy Robertson left his mark on Messi and the Argentine was subdued all through a 4-0 victory for Liverpool.
John Achterberg was within the dugout alongside Jurgen Klopp for these ties as goalkeeping coach, and talking to The Soccer Historian Podcast he gave his sincere view on Messi.
“I’d go for Messi [over Cristiano Ronaldo], as a result of I like his form of loopy magic,” he mentioned.
“However once we performed him, I assumed he was a diving c***. That’s true. I believe he typically has the flawed vanity a bit of bit, and I don’t like that.
Lionel Messi is an conceited diver ?
? @1JohnAchterberg pic.twitter.com/Mwou5qepSK
— The Soccer Historian Podcast (@TheFHPod) July 24, 2024
“I like his soccer abilities, however once we performed them, he was f***ing diving, received the free-kick after which scored.
“I favored it once we performed them at dwelling and Robbo smashed him. I assumed to myself, ‘you f***ing do him, c***’!”
Achterberg is clearly not afraid to talk his thoughts, significantly now he has left Liverpool for Saudi membership Al-Ettifaq.
And the Dutchman went additional when requested who he felt was the very best participant past Messi and Ronaldo to have performed within the final 20 years.
He labelled the Ballon d’Or “corrupt,” citing how Salah has been ignored for the award whereas Messi has received three of the final 4 prizes.
“Mo, that 12 months, he was unbelievable. Messi and Ronaldo have been nowhere close to him and it nonetheless goes to Messi, that’s a scandal,” he argued.
“As a result of Mo was the very best participant that season, [and should have] received the trophy.”
Elsewhere in his interview, Achterberg hinted how shut Liverpool got here to shedding Alisson this summer time.
