Sky Sports' Spanish Football expert Guillem Balague omits Lionel Messi from his Team of the Year
Wednesday 24 December 2014 07:54, UK
The Revista de La Liga panel select their players of the year for 2014 and compile their best XI, as we call time on yet another enthralling calendar year in Spanish football.
With competition fierce in this year's team, Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, decided to omit Barcelona star Lionel Messi from his team of 2014, opting for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema in his place..
“Messi was on the bench in my team of the year but 2014 was a bad year for Barcelona, partly because they didn’t play to his strengths,” Balague said.
“Messi is not great, or the best in the world ever, because of the goals he scores but because he’s scored 20 goals in 25 finals. Consistency, quality and leadership, all of that, that’s what makes him great.
In the key games against Atletico Madrid in the quarter finals of the Champions League, Messi was nowhere to be seen. The last game of season, where Barcelona played Atletico knowing a win would have won them the league, and again he wasn’t there. Benzema had a better year, all round.
“Right, let’s see what happened in 2014, the key games against Atletico Madrid in the quarter finals of the Champions League, he was nowhere to be seen. The last game of season, where Barcelona played Atletico knowing a win would have won them the league, and again he wasn’t there.
“Benzema on the other hand has helped Real Madrid get 178 goals, he’s the best No. 10 in the world in my eyes and he deserves to be in that team. How can you not put Benzema after what he’s managed in his best year, he’s scored three goals in the World Cup, scored 13 goals this season - he’s hit double figures last season and seven assists this season.
“Barcelona have played badly and haven’t played to Messi’s strengths they have lost their personality in the second half of last season and the first half of this season we still don’t know what Barcelona are doing."
However, the talented Argentina international DID make the combined Revista de La Liga Team. Here it is...
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Atl. Madrid/Chelsea)
Defenders: Juanfran (Atl. Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Diego Godin (Atl. Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atl. Madrid/Chelsea)
Midfielders: Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla/Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Koke (Atl. Madrid)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Diego Costa (Atl. Madrid/ Chelsea), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
Graham Hunter – Cristiano Ronaldo
“During this year Madrid have played 34 away games they’ve only lost five, of those Ronaldo was only missing in two. He’s scored 28 goals in 27 away games and that’s something that shouldn’t be humanly possible. He’s making playing away from home simple, as likely to yield a win, as likely to yield a goal as it is at home and that just wasn’t the case before he and Messi burst onto the scene. He’s a leader, an inspirational team footballer now whose outstanding and not just our man of the year but the best in the world."
Guillem Balague – Diego Godin
“Godin inspired Atletico to only concede 26 goals last season and they won the league of course. Don’t forget the six goals conceded last season in the Champions League en-route. The goal he scored last season against Barcelona to win the title and he even scored in the Champions League final, even though it didn’t clinch a title. He scored against Italy in the World Cup. Atletico have changed their style and that has effected how the centre backs have had to play so to begin he was happy surrounded by a lot of players defending in the box. This season he has had to lead a high line, he has had to start building from the back, he’s had to be comfortable on the ball and he’s doing exactly that. He’s aggressive, brave, and for me at the moment the best centre back in the world."
Terry Gibson – Arda Turan
“I’ve gone for a player who optimises Atletico Madrid. When Simeone came to the club Turan was a player who would often shine when the team played well. But when they didn’t play well at times you wouldn’t notice him. But he’s changed into a warrior under Simeone and at the same time retained that ability, skill and touch. He possibly should get a few more goals, but alongside Gabi, Turan is the player that has changed under Simeone and has had a fantastic 2014."
