Lionel MESSI talks Argentina, DYBALA, AGUERO and more

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A massive interview with Lionel MESSI where he discusses several topics.

It’s not often that the world’s best player gives an interview. Be it in Barcelona or with the Argentina National Team. However, following the team’s dramatic qualification win to the World Cup, the players have started speaking to the press again and MESSI even gave an interview to TyC Sports. Here’s what he had to say:

Lionel MESSI on Argentina’s qualification:

“We suffered more than we should have because we could have qualified before we did. I always thought we would go forward and make it but I also thought we would beat Venezuela at home and Peru at home to seal qualification before getting to Ecuador.

“When we were losing (against Ecuador), obviously a lot of things went through my head but we were lucky not to go crazy, we drew quickly and after that took the advantage.”

On the other National Teams at the World Cup:

“I wouldn’t like to cross Spain which is a team we could get in the group stages. For the play that they have, it’ll be a very difficult opponent. I would prefer to avoid them. Spain, Brazil, Germany and France (as well as Spain) today are the best and play the best.”

On the rumors of him selecting players for Argentina:

“It’s a lack of respect that they say my friends play. It angers me when they say I select players. HIGUAIN continues to demonstrate that he plays a a high level.

“I laugh because there’s a lot of crazyness when they talk about my friends. They talk about DI MARIA, AGUERO, HIGUAIN, MASCHERANO, they are world class players, it’s a lack of respect to them and to me that they say they play because they are my friends. Millions of people say that I play my friends or I make the team, it’s all lies.

“It was all shown that everything they said was a lie. The last one was that we said we didn’t want Mauro (ICARDI). I’ve never chosen nor left a player out, it’s not my ways.”

On other topics:

“Our families want us to win something with the National Team more than we want. The family suffers the most.”

“It’s always great drinking mate (tea), be it with Luis (SUAREZ) or Kun. And more than just the mate, the conversations are great.”

“Now, I control the remote control in our room (when with the National Team with AGUERO) because I don’t know what kind of crap Kun has on his phone, games or not, he’s always on it.”

When asked if his things are always in order and AGUERO’s things are a disaster:

“Yeah, it’s the same at home for me too. Maybe a bit much. I try to get the boys (Thiago and Mateo) to do the same. Thiago’s starting but Mateo is a disaster.”

About DYBALA’s comments of MESSI being difficult to play with:

“We spoke with DYBALA and I understood what he tried to say, others have tried to say it in a different way. He doesn’t have to clarify anything.”

About his talk with MARADONA at The Best ceremony:

“With MARADONA, we were owed a talk.”

“Playing at La Bombonera was a beautiful experience.”

Lionel MESSI on playing with Newell’s Old Boys:

“I would like to play in Newell’s, to play in the Primera, to be on the pitch, a pitch which I’ve gone to see several matches. But I don’t know what’s going to happen today nor in a couple of years, where I’m going to be, how I would be going back. I can’t say I’m going to go back and I’m going to play. I would like that I and I always say it but I don’t know what will happen. Hopefully it could be like that and I can play at Newell’s, which is what I have dreamed of since being a kid.”

24 Comments

  1. FIFA has to consider giving more tickets to south american team. Watching Greece vs Crotia look like lower division competitions compare to South american qualifiers. I believe teams like venzeula, chile or others would have easily qualified if they were to play in europe. Argentina would absolutely destroy teams like Greece or Crotia if were to play in qualifier. Just like Ballon dor awards, fifa is bais against south american team and players.

  2. I do not like the lineup is being rumored: Sergio Romero; Javier Mascherano, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi; Eduardo Salvio, Enzo Pérez, Matías Kranevitter, Lo Celso; Lionel Messi, Agüero y Ángel Di María.

    LoCelso does not impress me at all; you’d think Sampaoli would use Perotti, a proven commodity than a kid that has had any playing time at his club…from what I have seen Perotti is an Ineasta type play that can hold the ball dictate the game and move forward…Lo Celso??????? not sure

    • I really like Perotti too and would certainly give him minutes if it was up to me. As for Lo Celso, he does get playing time at PSG, though not a lot (an average of 25 minutes in the last three games). He is a talented kid, with lots of potential. My guess is Sampaoli is looking for playmakers, he kind of knows what to expect from Banega and Paredes and probably wants to see what Lo Celso can offer. In any case, it’s a rumoured formation, the actual one might be different. Also, this is a friendly, so let’s not read too much into it. It’s time to experiment. We’ll likely see lots of substitutions and maybe even a formation change just like against Brazil.

  3. Kun is always on his phone………try to be on the damn GAME when they play you.

    I’m getting excited to watch an ARGENTINA game with Less, not any since there is always stress BUT Less….FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE ‘-)

    Oh yeah, one last thing……..gone are the days when many called Messi a leaderless leader! not a leader my a$$.

  4. The promise he made if he wins the World Cup: “If we left champions, I’m walking to San Nicolás ” (it would be from Arroyo Seco: 50 km).

  5. If lo celso start isn’t that a great news ……

    Everything will not be according to us. …..leave it on Sampaoli. ..

    Bcoz it is Russia
    Paredes Rigoni Mammana Kranevitter all may play (start or sub)
    It’s not shocking news

    We may want Messi Dybala aguero icardi dimaria and many all start for us. …but in reality its not possible

    And to have Dybala in bench makes us stronger. ..
    Vamos

  6. I just the saw the prabable lineup and I am in disbelief. How can Sampaoli start Kranevitter who couldn’t find a spot a Sevilla while benching Paredes? It is way beyond my understanding. Someone like Perotti deserves to be at the starting lineup. Where is Dybala?
    I really thought that Sampaoli could be different but it seems he isn’t.

    • The one you saw isn’t a confirmed lineup. Don’t blame Sampa for nothing. Pls wait until the confirmed lineup comes out. Sampa is a very intelligent coach and unlike Tata and Bauza, he does analysis on every player’s strengths and weaknesses and the kind of match every player fits in.

    • Paredes and Kranevitter are two different players. I like the first line up in training so far. Enzo-Kran-Celso. Kranivitter is true 5 like Masche was,Paredes is more like Playmaker. Anyway have faith on Sampaoli. His worse performance will be better than our previous coach good performance. As you can see a significant change in squad too. New blood coming in. If he can make the group work and gel together than we will witness something amazing

  7. I love to hear about the banter between him and Kun. Also, I love to hear that Mateo is a disaster at being neat, because, for some reason, that kid cracks me up.

  8. some of them said messi runs a team… now anybody have a doubt… like he said they are world class players… poor coach made them worse for a national team.. look sterling he was aweful before guardiola… now he city top scorer in all competions… good coach… is important.. dont blame the players..

  9. People will still talk crap. People who talks like that either they jealous or they never played or understand the football in their life. However i feel joy for those youngsters in our team that they got opportunity to see in person and play with their idol and THE BEST PLAYER history ever witness. No wonder Pavon gets nervous everytime Messi greets him 🙂 Roy you missed to mention Messi praised Sampaoili 😉
    Like the way Messi and Sampa admiring each other work and way of playing style. I think this is the first time Messi bluntly said something that he likes about NT coach playing or concept compare to othets. He mentioned before but he was bit diplomatic on others.

  10. As for me the most interesting part of this interview was ommited. Messi made a promise to go by foot to Marian sanctuary in San Nicolas if only Argentina will win World Cup. That reminds me famous old pledge of Bilardo and his team in Mexico just before WC that they will visiting once again Virgin Sanctuary in Tilcara when team hosted (Mexico) if Argentina will won WC. They won but that promise was never fulfilled therefrom Argentina is cursed since then and can’t win once again WC.

    Od course that is history that may makes difference only for believers. Non-believers will take this as anecdote. But personally I’m Catolic Church man and for me the story is interesting. The more when I see how much bad luck Argentina had in all that World Cups after 1986 and how many great players they had.
    Now I start to think we need some kind of divine intervention once again to break the curse.

    I see normally for most other teams the waiting period to win WC once again is 24 years max. Brazil won WC after 24 years in 1994. Italy won WC after 24 years in 2006, Germany won WC after 24 years in 2014. We are waiting already much longer.

    Here’s more about the pledges:

    (http://mundod.lavoz.com.ar/futbol/vuelvan-tilcara-la-campana-para-que-la-seleccion-argentina-cumpla-la-promesa-de-1986)

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