Argentina manager Edgardo Bauza called the Albiceleste’s 3-0 thrashing at the hands of historic rival Brazil one of the toughest of his career, but urged his team to stay positive ahead of their next CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier with Colombia.
Argentina have won just four of their first 11 games and currently sit outside of the automatic qualification spots after a heavy defeat in Brazi
And they sank to new lows in Belo Horizonte as their main players — Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria — were all no shows.
Boss Edgardo Bauza — only in the job for five games — is already under pressure ahead of a potentially crucial clash with Colombia next week.
“It was one of the toughest defeats of my career,” he said. “We were doing quite well. One mistake cost us the first goal, but I think the biggest problem was the second.
“But we have to be positive, in three days we have a very important match.”
Messi accepts his side are likely to come under heavy criticism for the loss.
He told reporters: “We knew that this match was going to be difficult. The first goal stunned us, the second goal killed us.
“Unfortunately, before that first goal we were organsed. The second affected us. After that, we became disorganised.
“We have to become strong mentally. We have to get out of this tough situation. We’re going to get criticised. The people [in Argentina] do not have patience.”
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