Angel Di Maria has opened up about his role in one of the most infamous encounters between Real Madrid and Barcelona during the 2011 Copa del Rey final, revealing how he fouled Lionel Messi as part of Jose Mourinho’s controversial tactics to stop the Argentine superstar.
In the highly charged final at Mestalla, Real Madrid, under Mourinho’s leadership, were desperate to overcome Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, who had dominated Spanish football with three consecutive La Liga titles. Barcelona were also reigning European champions, poised to defend their title in the upcoming 2011 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United, which they would go on to win.
Mourinho, unable to outplay Barcelona’s talented squad, resorted to a more physical approach to try to disrupt their attacking flow—especially when it came to Messi. Di Maria, who was playing for Real Madrid at the time, admitted that he had to foul Messi in an attempt to stop him from running riot on a counterattack.
“I had to kick Leo because he was getting away from us,” Di Maria confessed in an interview with Clank Media. “At that moment, I had no choice. If I didn’t stop him, they could have scored. It was the only way to stop them.”
Despite the harsh nature of the tackle, Di Maria apologized to Messi immediately after the foul, saying, “Sorry, Enano (Messi), but if I didn’t stop you, they could score on us.” The match saw Real Madrid engage in a highly physical battle, marked by a series of fouls, and the referee issued eight yellow cards in total. In the end, the referee sent off Di Maria in the 120th minute for a second bookable offence, and it was Cristiano Ronaldo who secured the win for Madrid with a header in extra time, clinching the Copa del Rey for Real Madrid.
Reflecting on the nature of the game, Di Maria acknowledged that Barcelona’s style, especially Messi’s brilliance, left them with few options but to use forceful tactics. “It was a tough final, with kick after kick,” Di Maria said. “We were trying to stop the best team in the world, and at times, it felt like we couldn’t do anything but foul them.”
Despite the aggressive tactics on display, Di Maria emphasized the respect he holds for Messi, noting that although he had success with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, he believes Messi remains the greatest player in football history. “For me, Messi and Cristiano are the two best players in history,” Di Maria said, before adding, “But Leo has no comparison to anyone else.”
The 2011 Copa Del Rey final remains a historic clash, not only for its intensity but also for the way it showcased the lengths Mourinho’s Real Madrid went to in order to tame one of football’s most formidable forces in Messi.
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