“The only way to beat Barça was to hit,” says Di Maria who was afraid of hurting Messi

In an interview with the Argentinian media Clank, Angel Di Maria reveals the muscular way used by Real Madrid to beat the great Barça during his time with the Merengues between 2010 and 2014.

Angel Di Maria (36), Benfica midfielder, delved into the era of the fiercest animosity in recent years between Barça and Real, in an interview with Argentine media Clank. Between 2010 and 2012, José Mourinho, then coach of Real (2010-2013), fought a merciless duel with Pep Guardiola, on the Barça bench (2008-2012) by deciding that all attempts were permitted to overcome of one of the greatest teams in history, then led by Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Serhio Busquets.

“I was afraid that we would hurt the 'Dwarf'”

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Özil, Karim Benzema and Di Maria, Real had no shortage of talent. But he used other resources to get rid of the great Catalan rival. “The only way to beat this Barcelona team was to hit, score and run more than them,” smiles Di Maria, who remembers the 2011 Copa del Rey final won by the Madrilenians after extra time (1 -0) and during which he was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

But this brutal way of approaching the Clasico also gave the Argentinian international some cold sweats regarding his friend and teammate in the selection, Lionel Messi, not spared by the preferential treatment from Madrid. “It led them to shit themselves on the pitch,” continues the former PSG player. “At times, I was afraid that we would hurt the 'Dwarf' (Leo Messi). It worried me more than anything else that nothing would happen to him.”

During this Copa del Rey final played in Mestalla (Valencia), Di Maria had nevertheless feared the worst by touching the superstar himself. “The match at Mestalla was very tough,” he remembers. “This final was hits, hits, hits. I hit Leo who was going on the counter. I hit him, then I went to pick him up and I said to him: 'sorry , the 'Dwarf', but if I didn't foul you, you could have scored us. I had no other option. It was playing like that, it was impossible to stop.