These days, Danny Rose makes more headlines for what he says off the field, than what he does on the field.
The 29-year-old’s latest outburst was a firm protest against the Premier League’s plans to restart the season in June.
MORE: Danny Rose Should Stick To Buying Pizza | Opinion
He’s also spoken, more considerably, about racism and depression, which are important issues he has been brave enough to address.
But it was a refreshing change of tone to hear Rose address some lighter subjects in an Instagram Q&A with Don Dada on Monday.
Rose’s tale about playing Lionel Messi was especially good.
The Barcelona icon is not a super-sub by its traditional definition, but his appearance off the bench in Tottenham’s Champions League tie at the Camp Nou in 2018 was one that Rose will always remember.
He said on Instagram Live.”I was on the bench in the home game in the Champions League and when we played away, he came on for the last 15 minutes but, yeah, I s*** myself when he came on to be fair!
“My manager, Poch, told me in the hotel before the game. I had just come back from injury and he said, ‘You’re playing and no matter what you do, do not kick Messi. Don’t make him angrier!’ I’m thinking, ‘Nah, you can’t be telling me this!’
“I normally sleep in the afternoon so I’ve gone back up to my room and I’m just laying on my bed thinking, ‘What the f*** am I going to do tonight?’
“Luckily, Messi didn’t start and he came on for the last 15 minutes and, obviously, I’m thinking, ‘Don’t foul him! Don’t foul him!'”
Rose had previously told The Sun that Spurs cannot afford to be afraid of Messi. His own experiences prove this is easier in theory.
