Thiago Alcantara claims it is impossible to play against Lionel Messi

Thiago Alcantara moved to Bayern from Barcelona in 2013

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has termed Lionel Messi unplayable and has stated that Xavi was the main reason behind Barcelona achieving great things. The midfielder who plays for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, has lauded Messi, Xavi and Iniesta as the architects of Barcelona’s success over the years and the people he has learned from.

The Spaniard ended his eight-year association with the Blaugrana and moved to Bayern Munich in 2013.

“You want to be better at the things you cannot do so well. So you watch players. But then you watch Messi. The things he does are not impossible for him, but to play against him is impossible,” he said about the Argentine talisman.

The only time Thiago played against his former employers was in the UEFA Champions League semifinal last year and came out on the losing side. Barcelona won the first of the two-legs 3-0 at the Camp Nou and won the semifinal with a 5-2 aggregate score after the Bavarian giants won the second leg 3-2.

The four-time Ballon D’Or winner had scored two goals in the first leg and left the Bayern defense perplexed by his skills.

Xavi was my mirror: Thiago

Thiago, the older of Alcantara brothers, lauded the impact of Barcelona legend Xavi on the team and called the 35-year old his ‘mirror’. The experienced midfielder left his boyhood club and moved to the Qatari club Al Sadd after helping the club to an unprecedented treble for the second time in club's history.

“Xavi was my mirror,” he said.

“By doing simple things he would make great things happen. He was the one who helped give Barcelona the greatest moments. You will never find another like him.”

The 24-year-old acknowledged the lessons of football he learned at Barcelona and stated that his days with the Catalan club helped him become the kind of midfielder he is now. He also pointed out Iniesta’s impeccable control with the ball while running.

“Iniesta? Look at how the ball never leaves his foot when he runs with it. I try, if possible, to take something from everyone. I was created in Barcelona and every midfielder has to touch the ball. You develop your own skills, but the one thing you have to do is move the ball.”

Thiago’s time with Bayern Munich has been marred with injuries as he has missed more than 450 days of football through injury in the two and a half years he has spent with the Bavarians, missing almost 90 matches in that time. However, he got to lay hands on a couple of Bundesliga titles and a DFB-Pokal title as well so far.