Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera has hailed Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time. Herrera had observed Messi from close quarters while playing alongside him in the previous season of the Ligue 1. The Argentine is celebrating his 35th birthday today (June 24).
Herrera heaped praise on Messi’s work ethic and professionalism. The talisman is well known for his mind-blowing skills and he has achieved almost everything in the record books.
However, Messi didn’t have a great debut season for Parc des Princes after his contract with Barcelona ended. The linchpin scored 11 goals and provided 15 assists in 34 matches he played across competitions for the French club. But Herrera reckons Messi didn’t have the rub of the green on his side as 10 of his shot hit the goalpost and thus he could have scored more if he was a bit luckier.
He told AS: “He is asked 50 goals per season. From there, if he doesn’t get them, people talk. We must also not forget that Leo has had the all-time record in Ligue 1: he hit the post 10 times last season! If he had scored ten more goals, it would be a very good season for Leo.”
“But for me he is the best of all time, without any argument. Now I admire him even more for how he manages his day to day life with total humility, always with a smile for people.”
On the other hand, Messi admitted that they didn’t live up to the expectations and he promised to bounce back stronger in the next season of the league.
Messi told TyC sports, “Thinking about me, individually and what happened this year, I think about being able to reverse the situation, about not having the feeling of having changed clubs and that it didn’t go well for me.”
He continued: “I know that this year is going to be different, I’m already prepared for what’s to come, I know the club, I know the city, I’m a little more comfortable with the dressing room, with my teammates and I know it’s going to be different.”
Messi has always proved his mettle and he will be determined to turn the tables in the next season.
