Pochettino reveals how teenage Messi almost joined him at Espanyol
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Lionel Messi almost became his team-mate at unfashionable Espanyol when the Barcelona superstar’s career was in its infancy.
Pochettino’s Tottenham face arguably the biggest test of their credentials as Champions League regulars tomorrow when they face Barcelona at Wembley.
Messi will arrive in London having scored eight goals in nine appearances this term, suggesting this will be another campaign of glory on an individual and collective level. Yet Pochettino remembers from his time in the Catalan capital, first as a centre-back with Espanyol and then as their manager, that his fellow Argentine’s path to Nou Camp superstardom had not always been assured.
In the summer of 2005, he insists, Barcelona, who had Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o supplying the goals, were willing to let the teenager join their city rivals until one extraordinary performance in a pre-season game prompted a hasty about-turn. Four Champions League winner’s medals, five Bal- lons d’or and 560 goals later, Messi is revered across the world; Espanyol remain the city’s “other” club forever in the shadow of their rivals.
“I started to hear about him when I was a player at Espanyol,” Pochettino said. “A small guy playing in the academy in Barcelona. Then I heard he was so close to signing for Espanyol – very close – in the season Barcelona played against Juventus under Fabio Capello in the Joan Gamper [Cup, an annual friendly]. I remember that summer.
“But because he was so fantastic in the Joan Gamper they changed their minds. They kept Messi. So, if you look back in history, maybe if he did not play in the Joan Gamper that summer, maybe today he could have been the biggest star in Espanyol. Espanyol should be the Barcelona! Maybe I would still be at Espanyol managing him!”
So, how does he plan to stop him tomorrow night?
“I am not going to try to find a solution,” he said. “I am going to say to the players, ‘Enjoy playing against Messi’. Because you are going to have the opportunity to play against one of the best players in the history of football.
“And more than worrying you, that needs to excite you to play and so you can say ‘Oh, I played against Messi’. It’s a thing that you are going to tell your kids and grandkids.
“Sometimes, my kids say to me, ‘Ah, you played with Maradona’. And they are so proud. So enjoy.
“It’s difficult to find solutions to stop him. I think it’s impossible. It’s only to enjoy it, to be close, to help the players who are going to face him and, in the end, when you have the ball, to try to have possession, to play in the opposite half, to try to push Leo to play far from your goal. Because if not, it’s terrible.”
Christian Eriksen and Hugo Lloris are hoping to hand Pochettino a fitness boost. Midfielder Eriksen missed the win over Huddersfield with a stomach injury, but trained yesterday and is now aiming to return. Lloris has been out with a thigh injury since helping Spurs to a 3-0 win over Manchester United, but the goalkeeper returned to training last week.
Pochettino is without Dele Alli, who suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury, while Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele had to be withdrawn at half-time at Huddersfield.