MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 05:37:19| >> :120:12748:12748:

Luis Enrique: 'Andres Iniesta the player who came closest to Lionel Messi'

Spain manager and former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique names Lionel Messi as the best player he has seen, but claims that Andres Iniesta comes "very close".

Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has named Lionel Messi as the best player he has coached, but suggested that Andres Iniesta was "very close" to the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Enrique enjoyed a trophy-laden three-year spell in charge at Camp Nou, leading Barcelona to a treble in his first year at the helm before adding another La Liga title and two more Copas del Rey.

The 49-year-old is now in charge of the Spanish national side, but he still regards two of his former Barca players as the best he has seen.

"I cannot tell [Messi] how to dribble or how to pass or shoot because he is an artist at those things and it's clear that we don't have to advise him on these topics," Enrique said during an online Q&A.

"But things relating to the systems we use, situations or things as a more general level that benefit us, of course we tell him. How to create pressure in a certain way, where do we want the ball, what spaces on the pitch should he be taking up to try to receive the ball... we tried to influence him with regard to all those things.

"The player who has impressed me the most in my career is Leo Messi. After that, Andres Iniesta is very close to something similar, although Leo is ahead of the rest by a big difference."

Enrique, who spent eight years as a player at Barcelona too, also refused to rule out the possibility of returning to Camp Nou at some stage in the future.

ID:395272: cacheID:395272:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2495:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Fernando Torres for Liverpool
Read Next:
Fernando Torres picks Liverpool trio in all-time XI
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!