Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The hunger game for Henderson’s Reds
CONFESSION up front. I am all Liverpool.
Another confession: If the world is to see Lionel Messi’s career rejuvenation at 33 years old, it can only be with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
When I write rejuvenation, please read it correctly; it is more a refresh than any rejuvenation because Messi’s club and international career has never been in a slump.
Messi is the world’s greatest player, in this generation and also in the history of the game.
Statistically one can’t argue Messi’s claim to being the greatest of all time. Subjectively, those opposed to Messi will argue things beyond statistics, like the fact that he has only ever played for Barcelona in La Liga.
I’ve never bought into that kind of talk. If you subscribe to that view then you subscribe to the one that says Wayne Rooney wasn’t quite as good because his career was primarily at Manchester United, that Steven Gerrard never made it because he was all Liverpool, that Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs weren’t tested because they were Manchester United and that Alex Ferguson was never as good as a manager because after his apprenticeship at Aberdeen he was exclusively Manchester United. To question Messi as a player based on his association with Barcelona is to question Sir Alex based on his exclusivity to Manchester United.
I don’t question Messi, just like I never questioned Ferguson’s career contribution as a manager.
Before we talk about where Messi may go, should he leave Barcelona, a brief summary of Messi and Barcelona: He joined the club as a 13 year old from his native Rosario in Argentina and won 33 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League titles and six Copa del Rey titles. He has also been named the world’s best player six times.
Messi has scored 634 goals in 731 matches for Barcelona and assisted in 256 goals, which means his goal-scoring involvement for Barcelona has been 890 times in 731 matches. Another way to articulate this is that Messi has contributed to a goal every 66 minutes and 11 seconds since his debut on September 16, 2004.
For the record, Ronaldo participates in a goal every 82 minutes, has played 145 matches more than Messi and scored 33 goals more. But, despite the 145-match disadvantage, Messi has assisted in 79 more goals.
I digress, this is not about the brilliance of Messi versus Ronaldo. Both are exceptional players and we live in an era where we are privileged to have watched both of them.
This is about Messi’s Indian Summer as a professional footballer. He is 33 years old, so father time says he has two years, possibly three left.
He isn’t going to win a World Cup with Argentina because they simply aren’t good enough to be the world’s best. In spite of Argentina’s woes, Messi has scored 70 goals and made 42 assists in 138 matches.
Messi has scored and provided the assist in 1002 goals in 869 matches for club or country. No player in the Champions League has scored more goals against English clubs and his 26 goals and six assists in 34 matches against English opposition is a statement that mocks those who believe he couldn’t hack it in the Premier League.
Messi has nothing to prove going to the Premier League. He has everything to gain reconnecting with Guardiola.
The Manchester City boss is a Messi disciple. Guardiola has always been insistent that here is Messi and then the rest.
Inter Milan have always wanted Messi and Paris Saint-Germain’s owners love the marketing appeal of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Messi would be winding down the clock in the French league and he’d get bored with dominance in the Italian league.
If it is a challenge Messi wants, it has to be the Premier League and if Manchester City want to be champions of Europe, then it will be because of Messi.
If Messi stays at Barcelona, he will always be brilliant but he will suffer from boredom, whereas at City his only suffering will be the English cold because his football will always be sizzling hot.
Golf:
Rugby:
WINNING the Premier League has not quelled Liverpool’s hunger for silverware and the Reds will continue to push for trophies in the new season, captain Jordan Henderson has said.
Liverpool ended their 30-year wait for a topflight title last season, finishing 18 points clear of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Henderson, who made 30 appearances in the league before being sidelined by a knee injury, has challenged his teammates to continue improving.
“We need to go again, to be better, to keep that desire, that hunger and that competitiveness as we’ve shown over the last few years,” the England midfielder told Liverpool’s website.
“Just keep going and win as many trophies as we can because we’ve proven that over the last few years we’re a top, top team. That’s all down to the hard work and dedication.”
“I’m really excited to see what we can do this season, another big season for us.”
The Jurgen Klopp-coached Liverpool face FA Cup champions Arsenal in the Community Shield today before beginning their Premier League title defence against Leeds United on September 12.
“We’ve got to be right at it come that first game and we’ve got another chance to win silverware. After that, the Premier League starts pretty quick, so you need to be ready,” Henderson added.
Arsenal come into the game against Liverpool today as slight underdogs but will be confident after coming through a turbulent 2019/20 season under new boss Mikel Arteta. The former Arsenal captain took over in December with the Gunners in the bottom half but steered them to an eighth place finish and brought home their first piece of silverware since Arsene Wenger left.
Arteta’s first managerial role was disrupted by the pandemic and it was only after they returned to action in June that his side really turned a corner. Embarrassing defeats to Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion lead to a formation change and a run of six wins from eight games. For all their inconsistency that FA Cup victory over Chelsea suggests that this side can rise to the challenge and they have a chance to lay down a marker |
Caribbean Premier League: Trinbago Knight Riders v Barbados Tridents, 3.30pm, SS2; Jamaica Tallawahs v St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, 8pm, SS2 La Course By le Tour de France, 7th Edition, 10am, SS8, SS12; Tour De France, Stage 1: Nice Moyen Pays-Nice, 156km, 1.50pm, SS8, SS12 European Tour: ISPS Handa UK Championship, Day 3, 1.30pm, SS5, CSN; PGA Tour: BMW Championship, Day 3, 6pm, SS5; LPGA Your: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Day 3, 10pm, SS12 FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain, SBK Superpole, 10.50am, SS2; FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain SSP Superpole, 11.35am, SS2; FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain, SSP300 Superpole, 12.15pm, SS2l FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain, Race 1, 1.30pm, SS2; FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain, SSP Race, 3.30pm, SS13; FIM Superbike World Championship, Aragon Spain, SSP300 Race, 4.15pm, SS13; Supercars ChampionshipL NTI Townsville SuperSprint, Race 19, 7.25am, SS6; Formula 1: Belgian Grand Prix, Practice 3, 11.45am, SS6; Qualifying, 2pm, SS6; FIA World Rallycross Championship, Round 3: Finland, 2pm, SS1; FIA Formula 2 Championship, Round 7: Race 1, 4.30pm, SS6; IndyCar Series: Bommarito Automotive 500 Race 1, 9pm, SS6 Rugby Australia: Rebels v Waratahs, 11.10am, CSN, SS1; Guinness Pro14: Dragons v Scarlets, 6.10pm, SS1, CSN; Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby, 8.30pm, SS1, CSN; Gallagher Premiership: Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears, 3.55, SS9 Absa Premiership: Orlando Pirates v SuperSport United, 1pm, SS4, SS1, SS13; AmaZulu v Black Leopards, 3.25pm, SS4; Golden Arrows v Cape Town City, 5.30pm, SS4; The FA Community Shield: Arsenal v Liverpool, 5.20pm, SS3