BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – “A major new chapter is beginning. It is time to focus on the young players knocking on the door. I have always said that age doesn’t matter; whether the veterans stay or new players arrive will depend entirely on their performances at their respective clubs. Our intention is to give everyone the chance to wear this jersey.” Two months after the World Cup final loss to Spain, Lionel Scaloni is speaking out again. The Albiceleste head coach gave an interview to the Chinese broadcaster “MiGu”—widely reported by La Nación—as his contract expires in December and the Argentine press notes he has not yet decided whether to continue, especially given the departures of Messi and many other senior players. Federation President Tapia hopes to keep Scaloni on board, and the interview with the Chinese outlet offers some encouraging signs in this regard. “After the 2024 Copa América—having won everything, and with two years separating us from the World Cup in the US—I wondered if the future would be difficult. There was some uncertainty, but then I realized we could keep competing, and that is indeed what happened,” Scaloni explained.
“We lost the World Cup final, but the point wasn’t whether we won it or not; it was about proving ourselves again. Now I’m starting a new chapter—not necessarily about repeating past successes, but about ensuring the Selección maintains its connection with the people, so the public continues to identify with the squad. Replicating something like that won’t be easy. Ours is a team that commands respect—even ‘fear,’ in the positive sense of the word. I believe it’s a tough challenge, and as a coach—as the leader of the group—you have to recognize that. Naturally, the aim is to keep moving forward on this path, whether I’m here or not. That isn’t the most important aspect,” added Scaloni, reflecting on the recent World Cup: “We had arrived at the previous World Cup in much better shape, with 95% of the players at peak fitness, whereas this time we were pushed to the limit. We didn’t have players at 100%, but we trusted them. We had to make much harder decisions than last time, partly because of the affection we felt for the lads. It was right to put our faith in people who had given everything over the past eight years. The people matter more than just the footballer.”
“This jersey isn’t for everyone. The players in my national team are all great talents who bring out the best in one another. They played a fantastic World Cup. They feel at ease representing the country, and that’s a real asset: there’s a positive energy about them,” explained Scaloni, who will certainly lead Argentina in the upcoming friendlies—the last of which will also mark Lionel Messi’s farewell to the Albiceleste. “The 22- or 23-year-old Messi was a unique player. He was outstanding under my management, but I would have loved to have him when he was younger because he was unique—though he still is.” Scaloni doesn’t dwell on the specific style of football he prefers, explaining: “We remain true to our philosophy. There are eras when football is more vertical and others where the focus is more on ball possession. We always prioritize the Argentine style of play.” Returning to the subject of the World Cup, he says: “The matches against Egypt and England were fantastic. We never gave up, and that was the best message we could have sent. Against Spain, too, we showed we had no intention of losing. We kept trying right to the end. Spain and Argentina are sister nations. A few isolated comments can’t ruin that bond. I live there, and there were even people who wanted us to win. For me, what matters is that our people took to the streets to celebrate a second-place finish; to me, that’s a triumph—it means we all come out as winners. I hope future generations continue on this path.”
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
