Argentina “tried everything” to
bring the best out of Lionel Messi during a disappointing 2018 World Cup
campaign, claims Jorge Sampaoli.
The Albiceleste headed to Russia
hopeful that a talismanic presence could provide the inspiration which allowed
them to deliver collective reward for their finest individual.
Messi was, however, to struggle
alongside many of his team-mates, with the 31-year-old managing just one goal
at a tournament which also saw him miss a penalty and bow out at the last 16
stage.
He was deployed in a false nine
role against France in the second round, but was largely contained by Les Bleus
as they came out on top in a 4-3 epic.
Sampaoli, who is set to face more
uncomfortable questions on the back of a frustrating exit, told reporters on
his efforts to get Messi firing: “We have the best player in the world and we
had to try to create collective situations to really use that player who can
have many brilliant moments.
“We tried many different tactics —
surround him, create space for him … we tried to use everything we had to allow
him to do what he can do.
“Sometimes we managed it,
sometimes we didn’t.”
While he failed to find Messi’s
spark, Sampaoli does not consider his time at the helm to have been a letdown.
He added: “I don’t like the word
failure, but it’s very frustrating because in every training I try to develop
an identity for my team.
“I don’t think there were many
differences in the development of the game between the teams. They went for
counters and we went for possession.
“I think Argentina really fought,
France scored three in the second half, but we fought and had opportunities and
almost equalised.
“It’s not ideal and I’d have maybe
preferred them to work differently, but that’s the way it is.
“Maybe the reason [for a lack of
cohesion] is because we didn’t have so much time, but I’m convinced Argentinian
football has very good players and very good young players and we must work
with them to be one of the best again.”
Sampaoli also believes that the
tests he has faced in World Cup qualification and at the event itself will help
to make him a better coach in the future.
The former Chile and Sevilla boss
said: “I feel very frustrated because I was very excited to be here.
“I had many expectations, I wanted
Argentina to go as far as possible, we had an exciting project.
“I really want to move everyone
with this idea. I always believed Argentina could win, so of course I feel a
certain frustration, but it’ll make me stronger as coach, it’ll help me grow
and learn.”
No comments:
Post a Comment