Scaloni: “It was similar to the Arabia game, but that day we played on a decent field” :: Olé

With unbreakable tranquility. This is how Lionel Scaloni was perceived. This was seen in Atlanta, even during the most complicated passages of the game. Nothing seemed to alter the calm, the calm, the practically imperturbable countenance of a coach who, at 46 years old, is going for his fourth title in the Argentine National Team. Where he did not seem so calm was in the press conference he gave once the victory was consummated. The coach compared the match with the debut in the World Cup in Qatar against Arabia (1-2), a duel in which the rival also came out to defend with the last line forward.

”It was similar to the game against Arabia, but with the difference that we played there on a decent playing field. Thank goodness we won, otherwise it would have seemed like an excuse. We knew we were going to play here for seven months and they changed the grass two days ago. The field was not up to par for these players.”, Scaloni shot. And he continued with his anger about how the state of the field altered his planning: ”The idea was to do something else. But since we couldn’t filter the ball down the court and because of how they stood, we couldn’t find Alexis (Mac Allister) or Marcos (Acuña) up there.”

Despite the setback, the National Team moved forward with the match. And it doesn’t stop: after reaching the top of the world in Qatar, he added 14 wins and just one defeat, with 34 goals for and only four against. A relentless record for a coach who longs to continue making history. ”Winning reinforces a lot of things. I always said that Canada was a difficult rival, a good test. The test was spectacular, it was won. Now another Copa América begins”Scaloni commented.

Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez, who came on in the second half, were able to convert. The coach said that it is never easy to leave one of the two out of the initial formation. ”We need to have balance, that is the reality. It hurts because they are two top-level forwards. I invite you to give it to me if you find a solution for both of us to play.” he remarked. And he closed: ”The team always responds. Even in an ugly game, the boys created situations and defended like lions.”

-”It was similar to the Arabia match with the difference that that day we played on a decent field. Thank goodness we won, otherwise it would have seemed like an excuse. We knew we were going to play here seven months ago and they changed the grass. “He was not up to par for these players.”

-”We attacked more with Acuña on one side and Molina on the other. The important thing is that she won.”

-”We thought that for this match they could help us and that was the decision we made. We always do the same thing in every game. They did well and so did the boys who entered.”

-”Julián and Lautaro were able to convert. We need to have balance, that is the reality. It hurts because they are top-level forwards. I invite you to give it to me if you find a solution for both of us to play.”

-”The important thing is that the team is always there, responding. Even in an ugly, strange game, the boys create scoring situations and defend like lions. The negative, I would still like to analyze everything well and then make decisions. But I think we played, not a very good game, but a game according to how the playing field was.”

-”One prepares a game to receive between the lines with Alexis, Leo and Ángel. The court wasn’t there for that, they didn’t feel safe. To find the highest sides we decided to put Leandro in and then make a three-man start. There, in those minutes, the best of the team was seen. But I don’t want to emphasize that we weren’t playing well, because the reality is that with the field in these conditions there wasn’t much more that could be done.”

-”Winning reinforces a lot of things. I always said that Canada was a difficult rival, a good test. The test was spectacular, it was won. Now another Copa América begins.”

-”Look at the passing speed of our centre-backs and you realize how the grass was. They can’t change 100 meters together. They put bread, and I even think it is painted so that it is not noticeable. From above everything looks nice, from below it doesn’t.”

-”The entire Cup will be like this. Messi was fine and I greeted him.”

-”The thing about the court, I hope the others are not like that. I imagine the others will be fine. Maybe something could have been done here before and not against the clock.”

-”It was a complicated game, in the second half we took it to our territory, to our way of playing. Then it became strange, we had chances to extend the score.”

-”The idea was to do something else. But since we couldn’t filter the ball around the court and because of how they stood, we couldn’t find Alexis or Marcos up there. “We will have to look for some variant.”

-”We play based on how we can hurt the opponent. “We always do that.”

-”In the goal play, Alexis came by surprise. He uses that space between the center back and the winger very well, he is intelligent.”

-“My only idea is to enter with the right foot, I do it when I play football.”

-”With Ángel’s departure we seek to compensate, to provide balance. Canada has very physical players. “Lo Celso came in very well and gives us something else.”