Jan Oblak, archer of the
Atlético de Madrid
, is one of the goalkeepers who has suffered the most Leo Messi, player of the FC Barcelona. The Slovenian has had no qualms about admitting it and talking about how difficult it is to face the Argentine forward.
“If I take a step, he will see it and shoot the other way. That is why it is the best. That's why it's so difficult. He doesn't show it but he's always looking. He is always watching. His eyes are on the ball but he sees you, “said the Slovenian goalkeeper in statements to ‘Sky Sports’.
They have seen each other 17 times and he has scored ten goals. “He has scored many goals for me. Too many! But he is a great player, an incredible player, the best player. There are many times that he scores a goal and you have the feeling that you cannot understand how he has scored so easily. You're not even close to stopping it, ”he lamented.
Obviously, Oblak also has some good memories. Among all competitions, he signed three clean sheets against him FC Barcelona, including a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. “Of course, that was my best memory against him,” said the goal in the aforementioned medium.
For the archer of the Atlético de Madrid it has been an ordeal to face the Argentine. “It's strange. Sometimes you think you are controlling them, but in a second, change the game, score a goal and the Barcelona win. Sometimes you don't see it show up much. Maybe you think it's not dangerous. And then dial. This happened to us last season. You have to be 100% focused ”, he recalled to
“Normally, goalkeepers, we are yelling all the time to help defenders, but I know it's difficult when Messi is the rival. Defenders do their best but it's difficult to do something tactically to stop Messi because you never know what to do. The only thing you can do is play hard and when you see him, don't let him. Try to steal the ball but don't give him a foul near the goal because he is very good at free kicks. He is very good at everything. If you are too close, it will pass you. If you are too far, it will shoot. It is not easy to decide how you will defend yourself against it due to its unpredictability. It's impossible, ”he said.
IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT
For Oblak it is a problem because you cannot predict what he will do in the matches. “Anticipation depends on the player because there are some players that you can easily predict. There are some players that are more difficult to predict. Then this Messi. It is impossible to predict. Not many players have the chances that he has with the ball. You can never predict where you are going to shoot and you can never predict when you are going to shoot. When it comes to Messi, you can never predict anything. Never “, the goalkeeper of the Atlético de Madrid.
And it is not only his personal contribution but what he is capable of doing collectively. “Maybe two or three defenders come up to him to steal the ball but then he can pass to another player and the others score. You're not just waiting for the shot, you're waiting for the pass. You are expecting all kinds of things. Will it shoot? It will happen? Will you haggle? I repeat, it is impossible ”, said the goal in‘Sky Sports'.
For him, measure himself Messi is to assume that you can receive goals. “When you play against the best, you know that you will have to do your best to stop them. But you also know that when such a good player plays against you there is always the possibility that he will score. If you do what you know how to do, it is impossible. If you have your day, if you're in good shape, it doesn't really matter if you're 100 percent. His talent is too much. Most of the time, you have to accept that it will depend on him, ”he recalled.
FUTURE AT FC BARCELONA
Jan Oblak He also referred to the future of Leo Messi, which ends the contract with him Barça at the end of the season. “Many good players left Barcelona, and other good players arrived. It is not easy for the club, it is not easy for him. But it will show that it is still the best, I'm sure. Even if he doesn't play that well in one or two games, at any moment he could show once again that he is the best, he has shown it in every season for the last 15 years. Barcelona I should be very glad you're there. He has shown it with the titles he has won and how many goals he has scored. He Barcelona without Messi it's totally different ”, he concluded.