₦airaland Forum

2. 2009: INIESTA AT STAMFORD BRIDGE

Chelsea fans might remember this Champions League semi-final second leg for a string of questionable refereeing decisions, but there is one moment that will forever stay with Barca fans.

The Catalans were moments from going out to a Michael Essien strike, but Iniesta's thumping effort from outside the box in the third minute of injury time sent them through on away goals.

Barca went on to beat Manchester United in the final and win the treble in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge. Iniesta's goal made it all possible.

1. 2006: FINAL SUPER-SUB

Iniesta later admitted his "blood was boiling" when he learned he was on the bench for the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal.

With Barca 1-0 down at half-time, Frank Rijkaard moved to rectify that error by introducing the midfielder for Edmilson. It proved pivotal.

Fellow subs Henrik Larsson and Juliano Belletti, along with Samuel Eto'o, might have provided the telling touches to secure a 2-1 victory, but it was Iniesta's arrival that catalysed the comeback.

Future team-mate Thierry Henry, who was in that Arsenal side, recalled: "The person who really killed me was Andres. When he comes on, everything changes."

NB: Xavi dropped Zero goal and 1 assist in the whole 2005/06 La liga and UCL season

Ibime:
when the same player has been this sluggish for over a decade.

That's true. Example is Xavi.

thorrvik55:
When opening Lampard's account, don't forget to carry a Barca midfielder with better output than him along

They are plenty, especially when we talk about how he led his NT to the beach while others teams were playing Euro 2008

kendrick93:
the whole team was poor so to single out iniesta is wrong. Football goes in cycles anyway, that spanish team had won virtually everything at that point so it was only natural the only way was down considering the age of the team as well. No team rules for ever. All in all iniesta was a superb player, truely held in high regard by the spanish fans & neutrals, hell he gets standing ovations at all the la liga grounds he attends. Not many players have held that kind of regard. Nothing anyone says here or agenda can diminish his lengendary status

Don't mind Ibime. I'm sure if it was Xavi that scored that 2009 match against Chelsea, he would have be the worst midfielder in Barca's history according to Ibime.

We will soon open Lampard's fraudulent account.

Ibime:
There was no midfield in 2015, only MSN

See you... Anything to discredit Iniesta sha...

Your conspiracy against Iniesta is a pure scam.

Ibime:
Yes. They were all carryalong to Ronaldinho, Eto, Deco and co who were the ones winning the awards.

2008 is the year when they all started winning individual awards so there is no need talking about the inconsequential. We came to discuss their greatness and their greatness pertains to 2008 onward. There is no need me discussing Drogba or Kantes career before they hit 25.

Stop that yeye talk. Xavi was a 'tag-along' for 10 years and you say we should ignore it. He was already 28 and about to be kicked out of Barca. He should thank Iniesta for rescuing his career.

Trevor012:
Out of Xavi 4 champions tittles, he was a carryalong in two

You can NEVER say that for Iniesta.

4 of Barca's UCL win, Iniesta influenced them all.

Ibime:
Nobody is trying to credit 2006 victory to Xavi [s]unlike Iniesta fanbois doing attaché to glory that he was not consequential to.[/s]

[s]We done already gree that Xavi became the architect of the system in 2008. We are not interested in crediting Xavi with Ronaldinho or Decos work unlike the fraudster Iniesta who goes around claiming credit for other people's labour, trying to reap where he did not sow.[/s]

So you finally agree that Xavi was a carry-bag in 10 years at Barcelona including dropping zero goals and one assist in the whole 2005/06 la liga and UCL win.

The rest are unnecessary. Thank you.

Xavi at 26 in our la liga and UCL success had ZERO goals and 1 assist in the whole 2005/06 season.

Ibime, your conspiracy won't sell anymore. Stop leading people astray.

Ibime:
3 GA in the league in 2017 and 4 GA in the league in 2006

Stop leading people astray

Young Iniesta dropped 4GA in the league in 2006

26 years old Xavi dropped ZERO goal and just 1 assist in the league in 2006.

But we should praise Xavi at the expense of Iniesta. Your propaganda won't sell.

airmark:


No goal No assist in 365 days in laliga. Who are you sending your $100 to as escrow?

You don change mouth. You didn't mention La liga earlier. Who cares about that when Baba dey do this for UCL same season

https://j.gifs.com/r2R0zE.gif

airmark:
And you ran away even when many quoted you.

Is it on Betfair or Bet365?

Na you I wan make labrat ni. Iniesta had zero goals and assists in a year. Oya make we bet na.

Ibime:
Yeah, we know how Iniesta won after Xavi left, going a full calendar year with zero goal and zero assist.

We should credit the Spanish Kovacic for MSN work

You people should fear God.

Was there MSN in 2006 or 2017 that helped Iniesta win UCL and La liga respectively without Xavi?

Stop leading your people astray

airmark:
Debroslink don japa.

You must have been shocked that Iniesta went 365 days without a goal or an assist. Too bad.

I said you should stake $100 to back up your claim.

donstan18:
Inesta-Xavi midfielder was a real one and actually not a lie. The success of that midfield was due to their contributions, not one sided.

Both needed each other. They excelled because they played together. Xavi calms the midfield down with his passes and game reading skills, while Inesta refines the attacking settings with his skills, moves, ability to spin, control and moving the ball around. You can’t credit one and discredit one. Never!!

Xavi was very useless before Inesta and Inesta ended up useless after Xavi left. They were individually useless, unproductive, incompetent and ineffective in that midfield. None could operate alone.

Thanks to their stars Lampard and Gerard didn’t play club football in the same team.

Iniesta still won La liga after Xavi left. Iniesta won UCL without Xavi beside him.

Someone should tell us the UCL Xavi won without Iniesta

izzou:
Iniesta went through a year without a goal or assist,

Coild you put your money where your mouth is?

Let's do a quick one $100

hensben:
As at then iniesta was still a squad player like xavi. But then again, xavi didn’t peak on time for Barca, I think he peaked almost in his mid 20s.

Xavi had been playing 1st team football since Rivaldo's era. Una go dey yab Havertz and Mount, but we should praise Xavi for being a bench warmer for Spain at age 24.

Xavi that was almost offloaded to Bayern before Guardiola stopped the move. That's how surplus to requirement he was then.

Xavi should be eternally grateful to Iniesta.

hensben:
So you mean to tell me iniesta was influential to 2006 win. Both were good and needed each other. They complimented each other to become great.

It's a lie. It's Xavi who had less influence in 10 years before Iniesta became a 1st team player. Go watch that 2006 final very well. Arsenal packed the bus, but Iniesta came in to destroy that bus with a killer pass. Xavi didn't play a single minute.

Iniesta won the Treble with Rakitic beside him and Xavi playing far less minutes.

I ask again... Where is Xavi's UCL win without Iniesta beside him?

We all saw Iniesta @ 22 win the 2006 UCL on the field without Xavi playing a single minute.

Ibime should show us the UCL Xavi won without Iniesta beside him in his 17 years stay in Barca.

Football isn't about 100 passes. It's about impact.

BlueAngel444:
go on, write it and post it to Ibrahimovic, I am sure the zlatan does not give a fvck about your opinion. But you're welcome to try

You don dey take am personal

BlueAngel444:
So before 2008, Xavi the 28year old and Iniesta the 24year old achieved nothing, were waste pipes still a miracle happened and suddenly these two middle aged men became the dynamic dual.

No wonder ibrahimovic said if Lampard and Gerrard played in the same thing, people would pay little attention to Xavi and iniesta. Both those two use pass to kill the morale of teams sha , they go use you play middle man for real 90min match. In an era of running and crossing.

Kindly note that both Xavi and Iniesta were multiple La liga winners and UCL winners before 2008. Don't ever compare them with Lampard and Gerrard who were losers in their NT

Ibime:
When did Iniesta become a star? Is it not after 2008, when Xavi had already become a star and the best player in Euro 2008.

Iniesta was never a star before Xavi, just an Isco.

If you can name one individual award of note Iniesta won before 2008, I will send you $100 tomorrow.

Iniesta is a leach of Xavis midfield dominance.

When an AM cannot compete with his fellow AMs and is dragging productivity stats with defenders, he will leave his fellow AMs and be trying to steal shine from his teammates who made him what he is in football

Show us Xavi's midfield dominance in 10 years (1998 - 2007) or hold your peace.

Iniesta made Xavi EOD

Ibime:
Sharrap dia. No one cares about Iniesta Euro 2012 player of the tournament with zero goals and zero assists all tournament. When Italy were being spanked by 4 goals, it was Xavi providing two of the assists. Keep kwayet about that disgraceful polling booth award.

Xavi 2008 award is backed all through by assists and by midfield dominance.

It does not matter if Xavi was only recognised in 2008. Kante only came to prominence at 25 and Zidane was only recognised by a big club at 24.

What matters is how dominant you are when you take centre stage. From the moment Aragones made Xavi centre stage in 2008 and Barca copied, Iniestas life changed.

Iniesta had been playing with Van Bommel and Deco since 2004 and not a single person put him higher than an Isco of those days. He was Isco till Xavis era of dominance turned him to Zidane.

Before Xavi brought the dominance in 2008, Iniesta would never be mentioned with top midfielders. When nominations for WPOTY or Midfielder of the year go out, nobody even looked at Isco Iniesta. It was Ronaldinho, Lampard, Gerrard, Pirlo all the way.

When Xavi arrived to cut soap for Iniesta in 2008 was when Iniestas life changed.

Even for Spain, Xavi was the difference maker while Iniesta will be taking polling booth award with no quantifiable contribution on the pitch.

Xavi:

7 goals and assists in Spain knockout matches including 3 assists in finals.

2008 Euro final vs Germany 1-0, xavi assist,
2012 Euro final vs Italy 4-0, 2 xavi assists,
2010 WC semi vs Germany 1-0, xavi assist,
2010 WC QF vs portugal 1-0 xavi assist.
2010 WC 2nd rounnd vs Paraguay, 1-0, xavi assist


Iniesta:

Assist against Russia in 3-0 win and 1 World Cup final goal after being carried along all tournament with no contribution.


Iniesta should pray to Xavis picture every night before going to sleep instead of trying to steal flowers from his grave.

If I bring passes per game stat here that show that Xavi was making 100 passes per game while Iniesta was making 50-60 every season, you will see that the commentators usual refrain of the Xavi-Iniesta midfield was the greatest lie ever told to football watchers. There was only one name that should be attached to that midfield and it was XAVI ALONE.

If you can't drop Xavi's stats from 1998 to 2007 (10 years), then it's a shame.

Xavi was a bench warmer at Euro 2004 at age 24. Xavi at 26 at 2006 WC was a passenger. Iniesta at 24 was a MOTM in Euro 2008 final. Iniesta at 26 was Spain's hero at WC 2010 final

Xavi was 2nd fiddle during Barca's back to back La liga and UCL win in 2005 and 2006. Ronaldinho, Eto, Deco et Al ran the show. But NO your 100 Xavi passes nonsense started after Iniesta became a star.

You were probably the only sane person while the whole world was mad when Iniesta won this. Oya show us Xavi's own

Ibime:
Will you keep kwayet.

Here comes Iniesta still trying to live off Xavi even after death.

In Euro 2008, Xavi made all the assists and was named Player of the tournament. In that tournament, he set the template for how Spain and Barca will be successful going forward.

Xavi cut soap for everyone from Senna to Busquets to Fabregas to Iniesta. None of them could reprise the same thing without Xavi.

All of them were asked to replace Xavi. None could. Fabregas was given the opportunity to do so, he failed. They later dropped Iniesta to Xavi position to do the same thing, he couldn't. Barca had to rely on the most lethal front 3 of the last 20 years in MSN to win that last UCL.

When Xavi was making 100 passes per game, Iniesta was making 60. They will call it Xavi-Iniesta midfield. After Xavi left they asked Iniesta to do the same thing, he couldn't. Barca midfield was no longer dominant.

Instead of facing his fellow AMs who were scoring and assisting in the hundreds while Iniesta was dragging stats with John Terry, you want to leave his fellow AMs and come and steal Xavis glory.

Iniesta is the luckiest footballer that ever lived. 2010 World Cup, Xavi was making all the assist, Iniesta did nothing only to come and steal the headlines in the final with his only contribution.

2012 Euros the mofo didn't even drop a single assist or goal.

That's how in 2015 season the mofo went a full calendar year in the league without a goal or assist only to come and assist in the final and make it seem he's been contributing all season.

Xavi cut soap for all these boys from Euro 2008 where he set the template on how they would play. He controlled, he dictated, he dominated that midfield. None of them did. They were only periphery to what Xavi was doing. From 2008 till retirement, there was only one game Xavi played where Barca did not have the majority of possession. After Xavi bowed out, that midfield dominance turned to shït.

Here we are trying to give Xavi his flowers and the career leach Iniesta is still trying to steal those flowers from Xavis grave instead of talking about how his stats measure up to equivalent AMs of his era. We know how Xavis stats in CM measure up to all the CMs of his era.

He should go and face his fellow AMs and stop trying to live off Xavi until the grave.

I knew you would write megedefegebe when Iniesta is being discussed.

Xavi started playing in 1998, but you started rating him in 2008. Xavi was in the shadows of players like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Deco for 10 years.

Even in NT, Xavi was 24 at Euro 2004 but was always on the bench. Where was his 100 passes? At 26 during WC 2006, where was his 100 passes to help Spain clinch a title? But NO. You had to start from 2008 when Iniesta came into limelight.

Xavi played for 17 years, but you could only pinpoint the era between the 2008 - 2012. I repeat where was Xavi before Iniesta came into limelight?

Xavi @ 24 was a bench warmer for Spain. Iniesta at 24 was bossing Euro 2008 final. Iniesta made Xavi a god. Period.

Let me remind you that Iniesta was MVP of Euro 2012. Oya start talking about 100 passes.

Ibime:
Messi, Xavi and Dani Alves were the best in their positions in their era.

All the others were very good players though overrated into being the best in their position.

The only wack player was Victor Valdes. Busquets was wack (as a DM) but very good technically. As a CM, he would be very good. Iniesta was a very good player but could not compare to other AMs of his era.

There were some very underrated players in that team too who were solid as a rock and helped Barcelona when game went physical. I am talking Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal.

I agree with everything you said except the bold. Iniesta made Xavi a god in midfield.

Don't make me rubbish Xavi.

Jodera:
falcao, one of the core players who took athletico from top 7 to top 3 team while winning trophies along the way.
Went to Monaco and won the league from psg with most of his goal important goals(as he's Monaco highest goal scorer).

Won super cup against Chelsea with a hat trick. Shone at Porto, elevated his status at athletico.

As for forlan, well his good and his achievement speaks for him. But, he was just a good player at Villarreal, not so great at man u and also a good player at athletico.
Just a top player but not world class in my opinion.

When you win Europe's Golden Boot TWICE while playing for 2nd tier clubs.

When you are the MVP of the World Cup,

When you drag Atletico from being a mid-table club to a top 3 club long before Simeone became the coach

When you captain your country to win Copa America despite the presence of Brazil and Argentina.

That's a World Class player

Lana1:
Debroslink Spain is looking good this year.

Enrique has done a good job so far. We just need to fix the attacking department. Guys like Morata and Ferran Torres shouldn't be starting games.

Messi don score o

FirstbornWds:
Pedri and Alba are the best players on the pitch tonight.

This shows that our poor play last season was strictly Koeman's ineptitude.

Today, I saw Pedri dictate play like Xavi. The commentator was just screaming his name in the 2nd half. Give Pedri a good coach abeg.

andrewbaba44:
Morata no get sense

The coach should be starting Gerard Moreno

Moreno dropped 30 goals last season, but Enrique thinks Morata is better. I dey use side eyes dey look am.

La Furia Roja

Let's do this again Boyz