Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has said that Barcelona star Lionel Messi has not reached the same level since Pep Guardiola left Camp Nou in 2012.
Since Guardiola left Barcelona have won the Champions League just once in eight seasons, with Messi winning the Ballon d'Or two times in that timeframe – though Barca have won La Liga five times during that span.
Ten Hag believes that during Guardiola's reign, Messi was able to be more of a team player and under subsequent coaches, the Argentine has seen his level dip at times below where it was under the Spaniard's reign.
"Messi was one of the leaders, but he also worked for the team and excelled as a result. He has never been as good as under Guardiola," Ten Hag told Voetbal International.
"Barcelona has not won much in European terms in recent years either.
"Messi still excels, but now also occasionally goes through the lower limit. It was never like that under Guardiola.
"Pep has guts, he dares to be pioneering and innovative."
ronnie_luv
1601
basically he means.... No PEP, No PARTY😌
Harris90
590
lots of reasons 1.Messi had top players in the team then ,like iniesta,Xavi ,Suarez and Neymar ,how would he not perform to his best playing with those players . 2. under Pep, Messi was younger in his prime even .even though Messi is like Fine wine who only gets better with age. 3. but now no, Neymar so he's doing the work of neymar. 4. no Xavi so he's busy distributing passes and assists everywhere 5. no Iniseta cos he's now doing Iniesta things like dictating game plays. 6. Finally he's doing the Job of Messi which is doing everything above and doing Suarez job and Valverde job, and Abidals Job too . 7. perfect neMESSIs
JohnWick7
588
During pep period at Barca, Pep helps Messi by bringing out the best in him But nowadays Messi is the one Helping Coaches to bring out the best in them🙄
Pelé--The_Legend
415
BARCA WITHOUT MESSI IS LIKE A BODY WITHOUT SOUL. [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Cuobelsz
297
So he expects him to be the same as when he was younger. he is growing older, eyes are on him more than before cause now they know without him no results for Barca.. The same people he played with then aren't totally the same now, new partners, new approaches, improved systems from other teams. It can never be the same. But for the fact that he still excels shows he's just not an ordinary footballer..
jaazibshah
124
Pep’s amazing work for Barcelona was enough for the team to ask for and what more could they ask ! His amazing technique also known as Tiki Taka is amazing ... quick passes to get yourself to the goal ! Pep amazingly coached Messi ... & we’ll hopefully see Messi doing the same !
ryanoffset
15
The only coach who has balls to make tactics like pep even with a smaller team like ajax.well said
den”nis
13
basically he means.... No PEP, No PARTY😌
😹2 ballon dors without pep🤔🤔😹🤔??
jaazibshah
8
During pep period at Barca, Pep helps Messi by bringing out the best in him But nowadays Messi is the one Helping Coaches to bring out the best in them🙄
Messi goat and coach 😂
Very Humble
8
During pep period at Barca, Pep helps Messi by bringing out the best in him But nowadays Messi is the one Helping Coaches to bring out the best in them🙄
seems like Messi coaching the coach 😂🤣😂