Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni talk say him satisfied with how Argentina take apart Burkina Faso 7-0, but him admit say him prefer stronger opponents. Him talk say e hard to arrange that kind international match now.
‘We no get plenty options. Na only few teams dey free. No be say we fit choose, everything don closed or blocked,’ na wetin Scaloni talk on Saturday for press conference. ‘Surely we go go outside go play. Of course I like face strong rivals, but no plenty variants,’ him add.
For Scaloni, how hard match be no depend on rival name. ‘We don reach highest level without face those rivals.’ ‘For World Cup, match we suffer pass na against team wey theoretically low level, so e relative,’ him insist. ‘From these games we dey always take conclusions. You must see how players face match. We no see team wey relax, and we get plenty to lose for these games,’ coach talk.
Scaloni enjoy see new players for these two friendlies, previous one against Bolivia, and him yan say ‘all the young boys dey bring freshness, desire to dey.’ ‘No load them with responsibility of Argentina shirt, others dey do am and they must help them.’
About Benin match next Tuesday, wey go be Lionel Messi farewell from national team after 21 years as Argentina player, Scaloni highlight ’emotion of everybody, including Leo.’ ‘E go be unforgettable day for everybody. Everybody want dey that match and only thing remain na to enjoy am.’ ‘To get am for pitch na something unique, and wetin him dey transmit for field, to him teammates, to rivals, I never see anybody. Na that we go miss pass about am.’
On him continuity, wey advanced but never sign, him talk say ‘here no obligation.’ ‘When person do something, na because him want; nobody put gun for my head to continue. There are things you learn and e important to live, because this position carry plenty responsibilities, and beyond passion for football I still dey try do my things so e no consume you and you become slave,’ him point out.
Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, Manchester City player, na one of leaders wey remain to form new human group. Him talk about challenge to lead squad after Lionel Messi era and wetin him expect. For post-match interview, him talk about Messi farewell and legacy for building better future. ‘Leo dey leave us, big part of our history of national team, so now new road start with young boys wey join, with others wey already dey, so we go process say Leo dey go and start new stage. I think na great group, beyond football, great human group wey form and we go follow that line from here go front,’ him talk.
Some days still remain for squad to enjoy star presence, Enzo know. ‘We dey anxious for him to come, obviously we miss am well well and I think tomorrow him dey arrive so we go share asado. Enjoy these days with am, him deserve am well well, make e be great farewell for am and make him enjoy am with all of us,’ him confess.
Another important thing na Lionel Scaloni situation for head of technical crew, amid negotiations with AFA. Enzo ask make him continue. ‘Leo na him arrange group, na him form all this, this connection with people and this group wey achieve so much, today e important well well make him continue with us and now more. New process start where plenty changes dey and group must make strong and compete, na that important pass and carry shirt for national team as high as possible.’
Enzo present for Manchester City positive, as him talk: ‘Truth na say e be change for my football career. I dey feel very well, I know our coach Enzo well, technical crew know me well, I fit adapt well for best way, group phenomenal also receive me well, group very united, humble and nothing, I dey comfortable, now I get small days and now I dey go back there and continue enjoy.’
Enzo Fernandez, Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni talk with press after goleada against Burkina Faso and Messi farewell. Three of scorers talk about match against African side and feel the emotional day wey dey come next Tuesday against Benin.
Enzo direct: ‘Now new road start with new boys wey join. Start new stage. Great human group remain and we go follow that line go front. Base dey and new boys dey join. Message always same: continue winning and fighting,’ him start talk. Later him add: ‘Today for us e important well well make Lionel Scaloni continue for us. We must carry national team shirt as high as possible. We dey anxious for Leo to come. Enjoy these days for am and make him enjoy with us. We go miss am well well, I always dream play with am and e happen. Hopefully e be great farewell. Him legacy na to be leader, win everything and never give up.’
Franco Mastantuono: ‘This pitch dey bring me good memories and do am with Argentina national team special pass. Start of year hard. For Real Madrid I no get plenty competition and e affect me. I get plenty learning and I know say now best dey come.’ ‘With plenty hope to continue represent this shirt. Biggest dream of my life na to play with Messi, I never think I go fit do am and I fulfil am. Tuesday go be farewell wey him deserve as best player for history.’ ‘People dey demand well well from me and I understand. From 16 years I enter pitch I generate plenty expectation. I dey play for myself too, no be wetin people fit think about me. I dey try enjoy am and I love dey with Argentina national team.’ ‘Truth na say I dey too happy, maybe I no realize say I score my first goal. I dey very content for the moment I dey live. This na part of everybody, of my family wey accompany me from small.’ ‘Lionel Scaloni tell us make we do wetin we dey do for our clubs and enjoy.’ ‘We no prepare for wetin go happen Tuesday with Messi. Some teammates enjoy am pass and I live am more time as fan.’
