The Rebbi Meier Schneerson pretty much said the same thing about the Temple (even though he had followers who thought him to be the Messiah, and who were all anxious to get about rebuilding the Temple).
Schneerson was usually way ahead of his followers, and still is.
I miss the old guy.
M.M.Schneerson was a great Jewish scholar. He did a lot of very good things. He was/is not however Moshiach.