"Then all of a sudden he would turn up" – When Rio Ferdinand relayed Sir Alex Ferguson's biggest Lionel Messi regret
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand once suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson regretted not man-marking Barcelona great Lionel Messi in the two UEFA Champions League summit clashes in 2009 and 2011.
Ferguson, who retired from coaching in 2013, guided the Red Devils to three UEFA Champions League finals in the space of four years. After helping United emerge victorious in 2008 against Chelsea, he failed to get the better of the Catalans as he lost 2-0 and 3-1 in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
Back in 2022, Ferdinand opened up on Manchester United dealing with Barcelona and Messi in the two continental finals. He said (h/t Mirror):
"In 2009 and 2011, we were facing the best team in the world [in the UEFA Champions League finals] with one of the best players ever to play. I look at that now and think it was so unlucky to then have to play them. Messi never made any eye contact, nothing. He just separated himself entirely, playing away from you and then all of a sudden he would turn up. Bang."
Shedding light on one of Ferguson's big regrets, Ferdinand continued:
"Ferguson said that he should have put Park Ji-sung on him. If anyone could have done it, then it would have been him. But I have watched so many clips of that game when he moved Park around a lot."
Ferdinand, who represented United from 2002 to 2014, concluded:
"Maybe Park would have been able to slow him down, and maybe that would have been enough. But would that have stopped a prime Lionel Messi? I very much doubt it. I don't think one player could do it. I was just on the pitch at the end and thought that we need to get off there. They took our soul, basically."
The 37-year-old Argentine icon netted a goal each in the two finals.
Inter Miami boss Gerardo Martino provides update on Lionel Messi's latest ankle injury
Earlier this July, Lionel Messi went off injured during Argentina's 1-0 win over Colombia in the Copa America 2024 final in Miami, United States.
At a recent pre-match press conference, Inter Miami manager Gerardo Martino was asked to provide an update on the forward's injury. He replied (h/t AS):
"He is getting better and better, but he still hasn't received medical clearance [to return to action]. We are evaluating his progress."
The Barcelona great has found the back of the opposition net 25 times and laid out 16 assists in 29 games in all competitions for Inter Miami.