Maduro reveals Emery's secret plan to contain Messi at Valencia

At a Mixed Zone interview on Tuesday afternoon, former Dutch international Hedwiges Maduro recalled how Unai Emery, then Valencia manager, devised a special tactical plan to neutralise Lionel Messi ahead of a Barcelona clash. He described the instructions given to the left‑back and the contingency options considered by the coaching staff.

In the Mixed Zone setting, Maduro said a dedicated tactical scheme was crafted specifically to stop the Argentine superstar, highlighting the intensity of the preparation.

"We played against Barcelona, against Messi," Maduro began. He recounted Emery walking up to the left‑back and warning, "Okay, tomorrow we play Barcelona and you face the best player in the world. Probably he'll get past you nine out of ten times."

Emery then nudged the left‑back aside and asked the group, "How are we going to solve this for him? If he wins a duel, fine. If he loses, who will be eliminated?" The coach sought a collective answer to the looming threat.

The coaching staff debated adding a midfielder or an extra defender to assist, noting that such adjustments were "completely tactical" decisions aimed at containing Messi's influence.

Ultimately the plan proved insufficient. "Eventually he scored three again," Maduro recalled, adding, "We said, 'Yes, he is the best player in the world...'" The Argentine forward still found the net three times despite the preparations.

When asked whether the approach differed against Cristiano Ronaldo, Maduro answered that Ronaldo was a pure finisher. He added that tactical instructions did not always work, recalling a directive: "Cover his right foot. If he cuts inside and shoots with his left at the edge..." and noting, "Maakt hij een schaar."

The anecdote underscores how even meticulously designed tactics can be outmatched by world‑class talent, illustrating the perpetual challenge coaches face when confronting players of Messi's calibre.