Bayern Munich leader Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is convinced that Alphonso Davies has the ability and speed to “take care” of Lionel Messi, striker of the Champions League quarter-final match against Barcelona on Friday night.
The 19-year-old has established himself as one of the top exciting european football after adding 3 goals and seven assists in all Bayern left-back competitions this season.
And Davies proved there more in his game than wreaked havoc with his lightning speed, impressive when Bayern had to dive deep into the back foot.
But the teenager faces the hardest so far in opposition to the possibly the best player the world has ever seen when the German champions face Barca at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz.
Asked about the attractive match, Rummenigge told Sky Germany: ‘If Messi seems on his side, Alphonso will take care of him.
“It will be a complicated but attractive task.
“He hasn’t been ahead or haggled this season.”
He added: “But we also have a team.
“I think we have to deal with the game with respect and a touch of humility, but without fear.”
“Barcelona has been Messi for more than ten years. He is a player who has ruled a decade as the most productive player in the world.
“Barcelona lives in Messi. We have to see that we are taking an influence on the game.”
Davies insists he is “excited” and ready for the arduous task of marking Messi in Lisbon.
“I was hunting him down and now I’m going to place him against me, but I’m just going to think about the game as I know, I won’t replace anything and hopefully do the best,” the young man told the official Uefa website.
“We know he’s a wonderful player, so we can only try.
“It’s going to be a game. I’m very excited, but I’m sure those who see it will be too.”
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