Random Thoughts 3 - interesting posts only please

Spoiler (Click to View)

Put in the superlatives yourselves, Iâ€™m running out. Itâ€™s already been a while now that he has been outstanding. Heâ€™s more than decisive in every way. That heâ€™s capable of doing everything that he does at his age is something impressive, that doesnâ€™t make any sense.
- Guardiola

I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates. We must protect him. Iâ€™d personally put him in a drawer of my bedside table.
- Veron

The best way to stop Messi is when you play with 11 men and then you can double mark him, one player to stay on him and the other to help out. If it is 11 against 10 then you have almost no chance of stopping him.
- Mourinho

This year at Barcelona team spirit is dominating but players like Messi show there is individuality too. He is a virtuoso player who is determined and fast with the ball at his feetâ€¦.he is a mixture of Maradona and Cruyff.
- Laporta

Every time he plays, Leo Messi reminds me more of Maradona, both left-footed and short, Messi is the best player in the world, along with KakÃ¡ and Cristiano Ronaldo. For us it is not a surprise. Since he began to come and train with us and we knew we would go down this path. Someday I will explain that I was at the birth of one of the footballing greats: Leo Messi.
- Ronaldinho

The best? Messi
- Lippi

It is as if someone commands him from the stands, like a video game. I have never seen a human run with the ball at that speed. I have not seen Maradona so I cannot compare, but Messi is simply unbeatable.
- Arteta

It is clear that Messi is on a level above all others. Those who do not see that are blind.
- Xavi

I believe that I played well against Barcelona, the problem was that Lionel Messi was simply unstoppable.
- Heitinga

Frankly, Iâ€™ve not seen a player with such mastery with the ball for so long, a player capable to eliminate adversaries at such pace and so easily. If I tried to do the same, Iâ€™d fall! Each time he does one step he touches the ball. After his fourth goal, I said to myself I have to stand up and applaud him. It was amazing.
- Henry

Like any great player heâ€™s a fighter, he canâ€™t lose. During training sessions if his team loses 2-1, he gets the ball, dribbles around everyone and scores, and we start again from scratch. On Tuesday in the changing room, I came and started to look at him. He told me: â€˜What?â€™ I laughed and left. What can you say to such a guy? He is so strong.
- Henry

The other day I had my head in my hands because I did not know how he does such things. I received a load of messages all asking me if Leo is human. At times I ask myself that. What he does is not normal. We just have to enjoy it
- Henry

He is like a PlayStation player, he can take advantage of every chance.
- Wenger

Messi was out of this world, the difference between the two sides, he is a special player, on a different plane to others.
- Guardiola

Some of the coaches told us not to tackle him too hard so as not to injure him. But even if we wanted to, we couldn't get anywhere near him. He was so quick, he was impossible to tie down. He's always been the way he is now - all that has changed is the context. He does exactly the same things that he did when he was 13 and I wouldn't be what I am today without having come through the ranks alongside him.
- Pique