Lionel Messi believes the current Barcelona side have evolved under Luis Enrique into a more direct attacking power, and might even compare favourably to Pep Guardiola's 2009 world-beaters.
The Spanish giants, who have captured the Champions League, La Liga, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup this year, take on China's Guangzhou Evergrande Thursday at the Club World Cup for a place in the tournament final in Yokohama, Japan on December 20.
View: Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Barcelona training in Japan for the Club World Cup – in pictures
Winning a fifth trophy would mark Barca’s most dominant spell since Guardiola’s ‘09 side won all six major titles (the treble plus Spanish Super Cup, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup) they were entered in, and Messi admitted he didn’t know if he’d ever be part of such a team again.
“That time when we won everything under Guardiola looked unrepeatable,” the Argentina wizard told Fifa’s website in the build-up to Barca’s clash against Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Guangzhou.
“We genuinely weren’t sure if we’d get close to that again.”
But, Messi said, “here we are”.
The Ballon d’Or favourite noted the slight style contrast of the Barcelona sides coached by Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
Now, Messi said, Barca rely less on the “tiki-taka” style of short, intricate passes than under Guardiola.
“We’ve changed a little bit,” he said. “We’ve become a more vertical team. Of course, we’ve not lost our ideology of keeping hold of the ball.
“That’s our trademark and our priority: to control the play and keep possession. But now we’ve incorporated the idea that, with just a couple of touches, we can get in front of the opposition’s goal. Before it was about getting there using more elaborate build-up play.”
The addition of former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, with his ability to play off the shoulder of the last defender, has undoubtedly given Barca more thrust.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez have plundered a jaw-dropping 127 goals for Barca in 2015 – more than Spanish rivals Real Madrid – although Neymar is a doubt in Japan with a groin strain.
Neymar has surged this year, perhaps even counting alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s second best player. Messi said of his Brazilian teammate: “I’ve witnessed [Neymar’s] enormous growth, both as a footballer and as a person,” said Messi. “Back then he was already a great player and now he’s much more complete. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to have him alongside us.”
Messi insisted that his game had changed too.
“As time passes you grow, both on and off the pitch,” he said. “You go about adapting to different circumstances. Although I’ve kept the essence, over the years I’ve added qualities to my game.”
Barring an upset in Wednesday’s first semi-final between Copda Libertadores holders River Plate and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Messi will come face to face with the side which almost signed him as a teenager in his native Argentina.
Remarkably, Messi has only once previously played against an Argentine club, when Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 in the 2009 Club World Cup final.
“It’s one of my favourite competitions,” said Messi. “It gives you the opportunity to round off the year in the best possible way. These titles are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. It’s something very important.
“It’s been an amazing year,” Messi said.
“Now what’s left for us to do is end the year in the best possible way and make it unforgettable.”
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