Lionel Messi has never been as good as he was under Guardiola and now plays above Barcelona team, says Ajax boss Ten Hag – The Sun
AJAX boss Erik ten Hag says Lionel Messi peaked during his time under Pep Guardiola at Camp Nou.
The Argentine won a stunning 14 trophies under Guardiola's management, also recording his highest tally of goals in a single LaLiga campaign in the Catalan's final year in charge, with an eyewatering 50.
Despite still boasting the six-time Ballon d'Or winner among their ranks, Barcelona have only won the Champions League once in the eight years following Guardiola's 2012 departure.
And Ajax boss Ten Hag doesn't think it's a coincidence.
He told Voetbal International: "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.
"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."
Ten Hag, 50, worked with Guardiola for the first two years of the now-Manchester City boss' stint at Bayern Munich.
The pair got on well in Bavaria, with Ten Hag coaching the reserve side.
Messi's Barcelona stats post-Guardiola
2012-13
Games: 50
Goals: 60
Assists: 15
2013-14
Games: 46
Goals: 41
Assists: 14
2014-15
Games: 57
Goals: 58
Assists: 28
2015-16
Games: 49
Goals: 41
Assists: 23
2016-17
Games: 52
Goals: 54
Assists: 16
2017-18
Games: 54
Goals: 45
Assists: 18
2018-19
Games: 50
Goals: 51
Assists: 22
2019-20
Games: 31
Goals: 24
Assists: 16
While Guardiola left Bayern in 2016 for City, Ten Hag had already slipped out a year earlier to take charge of Eredivisie side FC Utrecht.
He swiftly earned the step up to Ajax, before shooting to prominence last season.
In a stunning campaign, and inspired by talented starlets Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt among others, the Amsterdam club won the league and domestic cup double – as well as shocking Europe to reach the Champions League semi-finals.
There will be no title coronation this season for Ten Hag, however, with the Eredivisie season having been axed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Messi, meanwhile, could still taste LaLiga glory once again, with the Spanish top-flight desperate to resume.
The 32-year-old had registered 19 goals and 12 assists in 22 league appearances this season – inspiring his side to top spot – two points above rivals Real Madrid with 11 games left to play.
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