Javier Zanetti Best XI of 2014

Javier Zanetti Best XI of 2014

Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti donned his pundit’s hat for UEFA.com as he chose his best XI of this season. The XI included some of the greatest players of the modern era. So here are those who got into this illustrious XI 

Manuel Neuer: Simply perfect. He is a goalkeeper who gives the impression that everything is always under control.

Pablo Zabaleta: He has physical strength and the ability to find space in attack. We are talking about one of the very best full-backs.

Diego Godín: He scored in the games that changed the history of Atlético. He is a leader; a brave and precise defender; a champion.

Mehdi Benatia: He developed in Udine, and has reached footballing maturity at Roma. Now he is becoming a big player in Munich. By working with [Josep] Guardiola, he will become one of the best centre-backs in the world.

Philipp Lahm: Right-back or left-back – and he is also playing as a playmaker with Guardiola – he is a football master and an amazing captain. I have great respect for him.

Paul Pogba: I prefer him with the France shirt [he smiles]. Joking aside, he is very strong and has a lot of room for improvement. What more can you ask for from a player in this role?

Xabi Alonso: He plays football like only a few others. When he is in midfield, he seems to be aware of everything.

Ángel Di María: Absolutely unstoppable. In my opinion, a pure talent who will have great seasons with [Manchester] United in exactly the role where my friend Ryan [Giggs] used to play.

Lionel Messi: Do I really have to explain why a team cannot exclude a player like Messi? OK, I will find an explanation. I am selecting him because I like it very much when he starts from the right and cuts infield with the ball at his feet.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Cristiano is Cristiano. I remember him when he was a young player at Sporting and now he is the leader of a great orchestra. His kind of music? Only masterpieces!

Gareth Bale: The Welshman was crucial in the last UEFA Champions League final like only great players can be. He has got all the qualities to be a benchmark in the future of football.

All the excerpts are by Javier Zanetti himself as he chatted with UEFA’s Alessandro Massimo.