Messi: “Winning again is increasingly difficult, but we are going to try again” :: Olé

The Argentine National Team defeated Guatemala 4-1 this Friday night, in the framework of the last friendly played before the start of the Copa América 2024. The great figure of the match was, of course, Lionel Messi, who scored two goals and provided an assist. After the victory, furthermore, analyzed the match, praised the young Valentín Carboni, starter in the match, and was optimistic about the continental competition.

“The first half was difficult for us, especially the first 20 minutes. They found us with a goal that I don’t know if it was offside or not, there is no VAR. Ours too, Lautaro’s third, I don’t know if he was ahead or not, but beyond that it was a team that was well behind, closed and it was difficult for us. Then the spaces appeared as a result of the goals and we got together again as we always do,” Leo initially maintained.

The captain also praised Valentín Carboni, who started this match and who has a chance of earning a place among the 26 who will play in the Copa América (the list will be made official this Saturday): “It seems to me that he has a great future, a present and future that must be taken advantage of, as well as many other boys who come with great strength. Since we arrived in the United States he has been training with us. AND“or I had seen him in the Under 20 but he grew a lot, he is much more armed, trained and with barbaric quality.”

“I found the group as always, working with the same desire as always. As we demonstrated in these two friendlies, facing all the games as always”, He said when explaining how he found the National Team in these friendlies and ahead of the Copa América.

Asked what message he sends to people before the continental competition, Leo mentioned that finding victory is increasingly difficult, but that they will try to defend the title obtained in 2021: “The same thing that we always say at the beginning of each competition: that let’s Play, that we are going to continue giving our best and that we are eager to continue trying, to continue achieving things, as we have been saying all this time.

“It’s going to be more and more difficult, it’s not going to be easy at all, because the games are getting harder and harder, more difficult. As they always say, “Winning again is increasingly difficult, but we are going to try again,” added the Argentine star.

Finally, regarding his goal, which resulted from a mistake by the rival goalkeeper and which served to quickly tie the game after Guatemala’s quick goal, Messi explained that he did not expect it and that it was vital to enter the game: “It stayed there for me , the truth is that I did not expect it. I found it, the goalkeeper gave it to me there and it helped us get the game back on track because it was tough.”