Carles Puyol has recounted an episode in Barcelona training when he was “humiliated” by Lionel Messi.
Speaking to La Vanguardia, the retired defender admitted he considered using physical force to bring down the Argentine in a one-on-one drill, only for then-Coach Pep Guardiola to warn him against the idea.
“It was a short match, man on man. I thought to myself: ‘I’ll see if I can stop him’,” he said.
“It was humiliating. Pep said, ‘don’t injure him, Carles. Stop the training session if you don’t want something to happen to him [referring to an injury].’
“I tried everything yet he always beat me. He had another gear.
“This Barca will be remembered as Messi’s Barca. He’s well above anything else I’ve ever seen.
“He’s an alien and better than four years ago because he reads the game better. He’s unstoppable.”
