Thomas Vermaelen Explain What It's Like To Face Lionel Messi In Training

Lionel Messi wouldn't exactly be your first choice of player to come up against if you're a defender. So imagine coming up against him every day in training, Thomas Vermaelen has lifted the lid on what it's like.

We obviously don't know if there's an afterlife, one atheist once told me it gave him no pleasure believing there wasn't one and that felt pretty deep, but if there's a hell where your worst nightmares keep happening over and over again then maybe Thomas Vermaelen is already in the bad place.

Go on, stop him- I dare you. Image: PA Images

We've all seen tv shows or films where hell involves some sort of recurring punishment, think Homer being filled with doughnuts until he bursts, not convinced that's a punishment mind.

So from a footballing point of view what could be worse than having to try and stop Lionel Messi forever. The Argentine just skinning, nutmegging, flicking and generally embarrassing you over and over again.

Opposition attackers must be easy for Vermaelen to face. Image: PA Images.

Well that's pretty much the fate that faces Barcelona defenders in training. Speaking to the Guardian Thomas Vermaelen explained what it's like facing the five time Ballon d'Or winner everyday, saying:

"It's unbelievable. If you gamble that Messi's going to go one way, then he'll go the other. You would think that he does it in games but he does it day-in day-out in training, that's what amazes me.

"When he comes at you on the diagonal at the speed he moves, it's very difficult to defend. You might know he's probably going to shoot off his left foot but he's always quicker. And he can play in that No 10 position too, with defenders at his back, and play assists.

"It's pure talent. It all comes naturally to him. Probably for him it doesn't feel special but for us it looks very special. He just does it and gets on with his job. He doesn't get too emotionally involved with players tackling him.

"There are moments you see him do something and you just laugh. Even on the bench during a game you laugh when you see what he's doing; the same as you are at home on your sofa."

_{Check out this video of just how good Messi can be in training:}

And the opposition only have to face that for 180 minutes every year!

Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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