PHILADELPHIA.- The Argentina coach, Lionel Scaloniended the novel about his continuity at the head of the last world champion and revealed that a meeting with the captain Lionel Messi and other references was decisive for staying.
“We met with those who we thought we had to talk to, we discussed our concerns and the most important thing is to know that we were all strong to continue. You never know the deadlines, I continue and that's it,” the coach said on Thursday. at a press conference in Philadelphia, United States, on the eve of the friendly match against El Salvador in preparation for the Copa America.
Scaloni, who led the albiceleste to the world title in Qatar two years ago, had questioned his permanence in the position last November, arguing that he should take some time and think if he had the strength to continue.
The coach revealed that he spoke about his doubts with Messi and other leaders of the Argentine team, such as Ángel Di María, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolás Otamendi.
“The most important thing was to reinforce what we wanted from them, what we were looking for. The importance of continuing to compete and feel for them made me stronger and more convinced,” explained Scaloni. “What we are clear about is what the path to follow is. It is not easy after winning. to compete again, to win, and that is what I wanted to make clear to them…Let no one let their guard down.”
The Argentine national team will play against El Salvador this Friday at the Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia and four days later they will face Costa Rica at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Both warm-up matches are preparatory to the defense of the title in the Copa América that will be played from June 20 to July 14 in the United States.
Messi's absence:
Messi was left out of both games due to a muscle injury.
“Replacing Messi we already know is impossible, because he is unique. We will play in a different way, we have already played without him and we have done well. The team already has its way of playing and is quite oiled,†said Scaloni.
Regarding the squad for the Copa America, the coach explained that “there are plenty of players” and that “it will be difficult to put together the list because it is 23 and there were 26 at the World Cup. On top of that, new players appeared,” such as Alejandro Garnacho, increasingly established in the Manchester United starting team, and Facundo Buonanotte, from Brighton.
“They are here because they have a chance of going to the Cup, obviously. They are playing at a good level in the most important competition, like the Premier (English league), and they have their chances, like so many others.â€
Garnacho was born in Spain and trained as a player in the United youth academy. Son of an Argentinian woman, the winger chose to play for Argentina.
