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Manchester united player, Wayne Rooney, has revealed he is still reeling from the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in London on Saturday, but has claimed it would be difficult for Lionel Messi to have the same devastating impact if he played in the Premier League.
Rooney joined talkSPORT pundits Richard Keys and Andy Gray while his England teammates trained ahead of the EURO 2012 qualifier with Switzerland – a game the Manchester United forward will miss through suspension.
He agreed with Alex Ferguson that Pep Guardiola's side are the best he's ever encountered, but believes Messi would need the support of the Barcelona midfield to prosper in England.
Asked if Messi could dictate games in the English Premier League as he does in Spain, Rooney said, "If you bring Xavi and Iniesta with him, yes. But it would be difficult, almost impossible for him to play as he does in Spain.
"The game is more physical here, going to the likes of Birmingham and Stoke away is very demanding. Cristiano Ronaldo is more suited to the English game than Messi. Cristiano is taller and good in the air."
On the defeat at Wembley, Rooney said, "It hurt. I watched the game again because you can always learn by watching football. It was very disappointing but you have to put your hands up and say they were the better team.
"They are the best team I've seen and Lionel Messi the best player. I think he got three nutmegs in the first-half. On my PlayStation I can make him do what I want but he's even better in real life. The speed he moves his legs, in fact his whole body, is amazing.
"Messi wins them games but Xavi and Andres Inesta destroy you. They are simply a fantastic team, a very special side. That's the level we want to be at and we have to up our game to achieve this. The manager will be doing what he can to see we do this."
Source: Agency Reporter