2023-12-16 16:36:25
12/16/2023 11:36 a.m. Updated on 12/16/2023 11:37 a.m.
Although Real Madrid has been Lionel Messi’s great rival during his time at Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid has also given Leo problems. Above all, because of the iron mark that Diego Simeone’s team had on him. Filipe Luis, then the left back of Colchonero, has left the mark of the blocks more than once on the Argentine star. And several years after his historic duels, The Brazilian made an incredible revelation.
“Dwarf”, the nickname that Simeone gave Messi
The leading scorer, who recently retired from football, revealed that Cholo had a particular strategy before matches to avoid directly mentioning Messi, with the aim of not generating fear or intimidation among his players. “When we played against Barça, Simeone did not say the name ‘Messi’ so as not to scare our players, he only said ‘The Dwarf'”he said.
This peculiar tactic intended to minimize the pressure on Atlético’s players and maintain a positive approach before facing one of the best players in the world. Although Atlético was one of Messi’s frequent victims, the Brazilian praised the Argentine star, considering him the best player he has played against.
Filipe Luis shared his admiration for Messi by stating: “He’s crazy. He’s by far the best player I’ve faced. I concentrated a lot to mark him, I saw practically all of Messi’s games from 2006 to 2016, seriously everyone. “It was to enjoy.” This recognition underlines the quality and extraordinary impact that Leo has on his rivals, even when it comes to players who have given him good kicks at number 10.
Leo, playing games with Filipe Luis. (AP)
“Every team that played against Messi, in the 1000 games he has had in his career, their coach made a special strategy to defend him. The coaches put one player just to mark him, sometimes two, or three. I even played with four players just to mark him. The others didn’t matter. Anyway, you can’t like that. He’s no good. Likewise, the guy scores goals, he makes assists, he is very good. Who is to blame for Messi’s goal? Nobody, everyone did everything right, it’s him“he added.
Filipe Luis was at Atlético de Madrid from 2010 to 2019with a brief interlude on loan at Chelsea, leaving an indelible mark at Colchonero, with 333 games played, 12 goals and the conquest of seven trophies: La Liga in the 2013-2014 season, the Copa del Rey in 2013, the Europa League in 2011-2012, and two European Super Cups in 2010 and 2012. A colorful fact is that, In January 2016, he saw the red card directly for hitting Leo.
El Cholo and Filipe Luis had a great relationship. (EFE)
The bloody duel between Messi and Filipe Luis
messi – 16-12-2023
Messi and Filipe Luis, a separate duel
video – 16-12-2023
Filipe Luis’s strike against Messi
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