Celtic Legend Kenny Dalglish: “I don’t think any have been better than Lionel Messi”

The Celtic Star

·7 December 2021

Celtic Legend Kenny Dalglish: “I don’t think any have been better than Lionel Messi”

Tony Watt on ‘natural genius’ Lionel Messi and that unforgettable night at Celtic Park and Kenny Dalglish’s thoughts on Messi and that incredible Champions League semi-final in 2019…

Messi: The King of Camp Nou by Jason Pettigrove is published this month (in English) and The Celtic Star has two extracts from the book featuring Tony Watt on that night in Paradise and his own thoughts on Lionel Messi and Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish talking about that remarkable Champions League semi-final from a few years ago when Liverpool overturned a big Barcelona first leg lead to reach the final and of course go on to lift the trophy with former Celtic Star Virgil van Dijk and former Celtic youth player and Celtic supporter Andy Robertson picking up Champions League winners medals.

Starting with Tony Watt’s recollections of that wonderful night in November 2012 when Messi and his Barcelona teammates were beaten by a makeshift, injury hit Celtic side in the Champions League. Here’s some of what Tony Watt has said in this new book by Jason Pettigrove titled Messi: The King of Camp Nou.

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Lionel Messi and Fraser Forster during the Champions League game between Celtic and Barcelona from Celtic Park on 7 November 2012. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Celtic 2-1 Barcelona – Champions League – 7 November 2012

This match speaks for itself. Quite possibly the greatest result in Celtic history, aside from the European Cup final, given the circumstances. Top scorer, Gary Hooper, Skipper, Scott Brown and ever-present, Izzaguirre were all out injured. Adam Matthews had to play at left back, Joe Ledley played in central midfield and Miku played up front.

Celtic took the lead, just as they did in the Nou Camp, when Victor Wanyama powered in a header from Charlie Mulgrew’s corner. Lennon then brought on youth team graduate, Tony Watt as a substitute and he scored THAT goal to put Celtic two ahead.

Tony Watt celebrates his goal in the Champions League game between Celtic and Barcelona from Celtic Park.on 7 November 2012. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Messi pulled one back for the best team in the world, but it was too little too late as Lennon masterminded an unbelievable victory over the greatest club side on the planet, all the while having to rejig his team thanks to injuries. The match was played in front of the best atmosphere that the new Celtic Park has ever seen, with an incredible pre-match tifo display encompassing the whole stadium.

It was just a perfect night to mark 125 years of the club’s unbroken existence. As a foot note, the Celtic defence consisted of a right back having to switch sides, Efe Ambrose and Kelvin Wilson at centre back, with Lustig on the right. They were up against Messi, Sanchez and Pedro!

Here’s Tony Watt’s comments from what was an unforgettable night at Celtic Park, as told to Jason Pettigrove’ in his new book Messi The King of Camp Nou…

Tony Watt and Victor Valdes in action during the Champions League game between Celtic and Barcelona from Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

“They were 11 players who were miles ahead of us, and we had to look to stifle every single one. We had to make sure that they didn’t play like they usually do,” Tony Watt began. “Everything came together, it was just perseverance on our part, not giving up and I know it’s easy to say, just giving our best. Something like that doesn’t happen every year, more like once every 20-30 years, but we had the luck. “Barcelona were amazing, you could see that, just everything went our way on the night,” Watt said. “I was happy to get on the pitch. We’d hoped for a positive result, maybe a draw or to nick a goal, but we certainly didn’t go into the game thinking we were going to win it. Neil [Lennon] told me I would get on at some point because we had a lot of injuries. “I didn’t really know when that would be because you can never really know what will happen during a game and things sometimes occur that you don’t expect, but obviously I did play and I think I did quite well. Tony Watt scores as Javier Mascherano runs to challenge. Photo Vagelis Georgariou. “The goal was one of my best moments, but making my debut was probably better. I don’t really remember too much about the goal because of how long ago it was, and even at the time, everything happened so quickly that it was all a bit of a blur. “Playing Barça was great because of the players we had in front of us who we knew were capable of getting a couple of goals at any time. “As for Messi… for me, he’s the best ever. I think everyone appreciates greatness. A lot of people speak about Ronaldo, but Messi is much more natural. A genius,” Tony Watt added.

Now moving on to King Kenny who left Celtic in 1977 to sign for Liverpool and went on to become their greatest ever player. He even has a stand at Anfield named after him. Dalglish also spoke to author Jason Pettigrove about another memorable defeat that Messi was involved in when Barcelona looked to be heading to the Champions League Final in 2019 after defeating Liverpool 3-0 at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the semi final.

Jason Pettigrove gets a full account of what happened next from King Kenny as well as an assessment on Messi and where he ranks in Dalglish’s list of the best all time players…

Kenny Dalglish in his early Celtic days

Kenny Dalglish on Barcelona v Liverpool, UCL semi-final first leg, 1 May 2019…

“Right at the last minute they went through about three on one, breaking away from a set play we had. Dembélé had a side footer into the net and miskicked it. I said there and then ‘we’ll get through now.’ It makes it a lot more difficult (having to score 5), that’s what I thought, but four isn’t far away if you get one is it?

“Getting five was a wee bit different. So, I thought that was a huge point of interest for everybody at the time, and I think it made the task coming back to Anfield more feasible for us, that we could do it.” Dalglish said.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his teams second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

“Barça were coming to a place that’s notorious for the atmosphere. The help that you get from the fans when you’re on the pitch, for European nights, especially when it’s a club with the standing of Barcelona coming, and the position that we were in… Liverpool knew their backs were against the wall, but that’s when everybody really gets together and gets behind the team.

“The result wasn’t a fair reflection on the game but it never is impossible. Whatever way round you want to put it, the result didn’t reflect the performance. Of either team. I didn’t think Barcelona were that good to be perfectly honest, although they scored three goals. And Messi had had a quiet game. I wouldn’t say he’d played brilliantly. He was pretty quiet and then scored two goals.”

Lionel Messi of Barcelona pats the badge on his shirt as he celebrates scoring his teams third goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Kenny Dalglish on the second leg at Anfield on 7 May…

“Liverpool have had a few nights like that. They talk about St. Etienne when David Fairclough went through and scored the winning goal… they had a great night against Olympiacos when Steven Gerrard grabbed one from 20-odd yards, and this’ll be up there alongside those games.

“Another one was beating Chelsea when there was the dispute of whether the ball had crossed the line or not, to get us through, when García scored. So, there’s been a few nights when Anfield has really been rocking and it’s been really helpful to the players. This was one of those nights, the fans were unbelievable, the players responded to it, and whether the players wind the fans up or whether the fans lift the players up is debatable, but if they both help each other there’s no debate that there’s going to be a fantastic, fantastic atmosphere.

“Getting a goal in the first half was helpful. Was it the best European night? I don’t know how you define best. I mean you’ve got to have been there to define the best haven’t you. Me, I wasn’t at the St. Etienne game, I wasn’t at the Olympiacos game. I was at the Chelsea game and that was only 1-0 and the place was jumping.

“It’s like… do you like steak or fish? Everybody’s got a different taste haven’t they. So, everybody will have a different preference but there’s certainly one thing… it must’ve been some night if it beat the Barça game.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 07: Lionel Messi of Barcelona is chased by Sadio Mane of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Kenny Dalglish on Messi: “I think he’s brave you know. You can’t play at his level with the tackles against him that he’s had, then stood up and gone back for more, unless you’ve got huge courage. And he’s done it. I mean, Maradona was the same. Pelé… all the greats… Ronaldo… you get kicked, you get up, you go again.

Some people might’ve tried to flush him out when he was younger, have a kick and see how he reacts to it, and he always reacted very positively. If you kick him, he’ll go back, and then you’re under pressure because if you do it again, you’re off. For me, that was very important, and I think also… his demeanour. Some people might’ve expected a man of his quality on the pitch to be arrogant, and I don’t know the guy, I’ve never met him, but he appears to me to be just a guy that’s very well liked in and around the place, and somebody that they can relate to.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“He never undermined anybody, he never had a strop if he didn’t get the pass exactly how he wanted it, and I think he had a lot of respect off the people he played with because of that. I don’t know… but that’s just me looking in from the outside.

“In and around the dressing room, it’s important that the players playing with him feel part of it as well. I think he’s always, always enjoyed any success he’s had and shared it with everybody else. I’m not going to be someone that’s going to pick somewhere where he should’ve played, or he shouldn’t have played. Only thing I would say for me, is it’s a privilege to be able to watch him. You’ve been able to watch him play and enjoy watching him play.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona looks thoughtful during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 07, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“His stats don’t lie, the number of goals he’s scored, the success he’s had at Barça, it doesn’t lie. Certainly, he needs other people, everybody needs somebody to play with, that’s why it’s a team game. He respects that, he respects people that can do the job that he didn’t do (but) I don’t think any have been better than Lionel Messi.

“The question goes up about him and Ronaldo… and by the way shouldn’t we just say that we’re very, very fortunate to be able to watch both at the same time… As I said earlier, it’s about what your preference is. And what would’ve been interesting maybe, is if the two of them were on the same team at any time… but you’d need to have some good runners running about mind you! “

* Extracts courtesy of author Jason Pettigrove from Messi: The King of Camp Nou which is published on 16 December 2021 and is available via Amazon.