Real Madrid News
Real Madrid legend lashes out at Lionel Messi over Champions League comments
Real Madrid legend Guti took a jibe at former Barcelona and current Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi, saying that the evaluation of being the best is done on the basis of wins and nothing else.
The former Real Madrid midfielder, who made more than 500 appearances for the Spanish capital club while winning five La Liga and three UEFA Champions League titles, responded to Messi’s comments where the Argentine had said how PSG were the better team than Madrid in the last season’s Champions League knockout stages.
“Last year’s elimination was very difficult to digest because of how it happened, we had played two great games against Real Madrid and in small details we missed it,” the legendary forward had said.
“Champions League is a difficult competition to win because the best team does not always win and it is decided by small details, any mistake leaves you out of a tie, but we are preparing for those hard times now,” he had added.
Responding to these comments, Guti questioned Messi’s claims by asking how does someone evaluate being the best. He said that PSG got two fair chances and that should have been enough to assert the claim.
“What is it to be the best? How do you evaluate being the best? When? In one match, in one knockout round, in three knockout rounds…?” Guti responded on El Chiringuito, quoted by MARCA.
The first leg of the Round of 16 tie of last season’s UEFA Champions League between Real Madrid and PSG saw Kylian Mbappe’s only goal being the difference. The second leg at Santiago Bernabeu, however, saw Madrid turning the tide, with Karim Benzema scoring a 17-minute hat-trick.
The Merengues went on to beat Chelsea and Manchester City in a similar fashion before getting the better of Liverpool in the final to lift their 14th European crown.
Real Madrid are set to kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday when they host Inter Milan at the Bernabeu.
Jose Mourinho’s side will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis last time out.
And ahead of the crucial European opener, the Portuguese has received a timely boost, with Thiago Pitarch and Endrick both in contention to feature.
Pitarch and Endrick back in training
According to Arancha Rodriguez, Pitarch and Endrick returned to full group training on Sunday, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, in the final session before the Inter clash. Both are now in contention to make the squad vs Inter.
All three had been sidelined by injury, with Pitarch having suffered a torn medial collateral ligament during pre-season and Endrick nursing a muscular problem.
Their return to team training is a welcome development for Mourinho, even if none of the trio are likely to start given they missed more than a month of preparation.
Of the group, Pitarch and Endrick are reported to have the best chance of making the matchday squad, with the pair now working to sharpen their fitness in the coming days.
Why Pitarch could prove crucial
Pitarch’s potential availability is particularly significant given Mourinho’s threadbare midfield options for the Inter game.
Real Madrid will be without Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva, all of whom are suspended, leaving the Portuguese short in the middle of the park.
With Tchouameni also only just returning from a groin issue, the young Spaniard could offer valuable depth in an area where Mourinho has few alternatives.
For Endrick, meanwhile, the game represents a chance to make his competitive debut under Mourinho and begin clawing back ground on Carlos Espi in the race for a bench role in attack.
While Mourinho will not want to rush any of his returning players, having Pitarch and Endrick back in the fold offers him some much-needed flexibility as Real Madrid look to make a statement in Europe.
