Only Lionel Messi can shirk defending warns Monterrey coach before Dortmund clash

ATLANTA – Monterrey coach Domenec Torrent warned his team that every player must defend diligently if the Mexican club are to stand any chance of beating Borussia Dortmund in the Club World Cup last 16 on July 1 (July 2, Singapore time).

He said that former Barcelona great Lionel Messi, whose Inter Miami side were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, is the only player in the world who can get away without tracking back.

Monterrey secured an impressive 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in the group phase, but, to reach the quarter-finals, must secure a first-ever win for a Mexican side against European opposition in the competition.

“We need to compete as a team, and what I mean is it’s about defending – we must all defend,” Torrent said.

“If you do not defend, you’re getting benched, if you don’t abide by the rules, you’re harming the team. We played very well against Inter Milan, we went in for every ball, we suffered and we endured, even our most talented players that tend to defend less, they defended very well.

“Lionel Messi, the best player in history... He was the only one who could tip the balance, turn the game on its head, without teammates, without defending. But all the other players in the world they need to track back and to defend, otherwise you can’t compete head-to-head with these teams.”

Torrent added that the margin of quality between European sides and the rest of the world was smaller, but still evident, although it did not preclude an upset.

“Against the top European teams there is a significant gap, this is the truth of the matter,” he explained.

“We have a plan A, plan B and plan C, that’s what you need as a coach, many things happen over the