Umtiti talks Messi, Iniesta, Pique, Barcelona, comeback vs PSG – ‘They knew they were going to destroy PSG’

Samuel Umtiti’s story at Barcelona will always be remembered as a story of what could have been, for the player never really came back after suffering a knee injury in his prime.

The club supported him for a long time and even advised him to undergo surgery, but his insistence on going for conservative treatment at the crucial healing point appears to have served as the final dagger in his career.

Eventually, he never really came back from his setback and called it a day on his playing career relatively early – albeit still as a World Cup winner with France.

The player recently spoke in depth about his time at Barcelona (h/t SPORT), but the biggest talking point from his interview was about how the heavyweights in the dressing room were convinced of achieving the remontada against PSG in 2017.

“Before the match, Messi and Suarez knew that they were going to destroy PSG,” he recalled.

On his beginnings at Barcelona

The former Barcelona player began by speaking about his initial days after signing for the club and how he was shocked at how humble the dressing room was as a whole.

“They had won the treble, League, Cup, and Champions League, and even so, they were people who came to talk to you about everything and nothing. I felt at home from the first day.”

“Iniesta, Busquets, Neymar, and even Leo Messi [helped integrate the new signings]. [That] is the strength of the club,” he added.

Umtiti then praised Andres Iniesta and revealed the life lesson he learnt from the Spanish legend.

“As a person, he is top. You realise that even if you have won everything, it is useless to believe you are superior,” he remarked.

On Lionel Messi

A major part of Umtiti’s interview revolved around his time with Lionel Messi and the mentality of the Argentine ace.

“There is only one, it’s Leo. At all levels. He alone is capable of winning a game, and very few can do that,” he began.

“If we won 4-0 and he didn’t score, he wasn’t happy. In his head, it was clear: he had to score all the time. That’s the sign of the big ones,” he added.

Umtiti was in awe of Messi at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Praising Messi’s finishing and ability to control games and their tempo, the French defender explained how the World Cup winner is a genius on the field.

“[He] is a killer in front of the goal.”

“He knew exactly when to accelerate and when to slow down the game. He is always looking left and right, checking everyone’s positioning. He always has a time advantage,” he added.

Finally, he was asked how it was to defend against the legend, to which he simply said,

“There is no recipe to defend Leo, he is unpredictable.”

On Gerard Pique

The former Barcelona player then opened up on Gerard Pique, and his partnership with the Catalan legend on the field.

“[He is] one of the best defenders I have played with.”

“He was not the hardest working, because athletically he was ready, but he had an incredible reading of the game,” he added.

Speaking on the Barcelona legend’s knack for scoring goals and desire to find the back of the net despite being a defender, he said,

“We were winning 3 or 4-0 and he always wanted to go up to score his goal.”

On Barcelona behind the scenes

Finally, Umtiti praised Barcelona’s administration, organisation, and how the players are given no responsibility apart from giving their best on the field.

“In Barça, the player only deals with football. Everything else is managed, and that allows you to concentrate.”

“There was no going to the hotel the day before. You arrived at the stadium two hours early. They make you responsible, they treat you like a professional,” he added on the routine back then.

Finally, he closed his interview with a remark on the humility of players in Barcelona and how it differed from France.

“In France, when you sign your first contracts, some already believe a lot. Not at Barça. People were simple, they came to training in the clothes of their sponsors. That keeps you on your feet on the ground.”