“Let's enjoy it and we'll see tomorrow”: Scaloni did not want to comment on Messi's retirement

In the training and friendly stage prior to the Copa América in the United States, the great objective for the Argentine team, Lionel Scaloni gave an interview for Mexican television.

In a preview of what will be the complete report that the Telemundo channel will broadcast, some of the answers given by the world champion coach were known.

In one of the questions, Scaloni referred to the friendlies that are coming up for the National Team, how the group absorbs the pressure of being the world champion and how he imagines playing without Lionel Messi.

“We Argentines are too melancholic. We are already thinking about the day when he is gone, when he is still playing. Let’s enjoy it and we’ll see tomorrow, because I think the present he has is so important, for everyone, not just for Argentina, because in the end Leo plays for those who like football. “Someday it will happen…” he stated.

Regarding the magnetism that Messi generates in every corner of the planet with his mere presence, the coach acknowledged that “it is not easy to be the continuous gaze of everyone.” And he gave an example: “We are training, Leo is there and all eyes are on him when the whole group is training here. And that for 20 years…”.

On the other hand, the Argentine coach explained that it is very difficult for him to assemble the team for the upcoming preparatory duels (6/9 against Ecuador and 6/14 against Guatemala) with such little work time. “We will look for the minimum risk in friendly matches,” he said.

Scaloni also highlighted the importance of Messi, Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi as references in the world champion team: “Yes, the coach has something to do with it, but I am one of those who think that in the end the group pulls away from the leaders, from Leo, from Fideo, from Otamendi, who are the ones who have been there for years and want to continue being there. They want to continue being there and they show that when you take them out, you don’t call them up for whatever reason or they miss a game due to injury, they want to be there.”

Furthermore, Scaloni valued that his players “are used to playing to win and compete”, something that generally identifies the Argentine soccer player, “winning by wanting to be there and compete”, but he did show concern about the fact of how they arrive at the concentration after the long season.

“It is difficult to prepare and put most of the players, who came in a different condition than the others, for a game on the 9th, because I need to see them on Saturday. It is very difficult. What is clear is that we will seek the minimum risk, especially in friendly matches,” said the former defender.

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