Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has backed captain and star Lionel Messi, while praising the Barcelona player for not ending his association with the national team after a torrent of criticisms following the Copa America.
«I am not worried, but it would disappoint me greatly if Messi and [Javier] Mascherano did not come. It would frustrate me but I would understand if Messi does not come to the next game,» the trainer signalled in an interview with90 Minutos de Fútbol.
«If I were Messi, I would have already walked away from the national team.»
Martino, who coached Leo in Barcelona and who comes from the same city, Rosario, as the four-time Ballon d’Or winner, played down rumours that his captain would only represent the Albiceleste in competitive matches, and also slammed his critics.
«Nobody has told me that Leo will not play friendlies. The criticisms of Messi do not deserve any type of analysis,» he fired.
The coach also justified his decision to send on Gonzalo Higuaín in the second half of the Copa America final against Chile, eventually lost on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
«It appeared to me that Gonzalo would allow us to hold the ball up against an opponent with little physical stature. I cannot accept the evaluations made solely based on the final result,» he insisted, explaining why Higuaín was preferred to Carlos Tevez as a substitute.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald