Messi’s Shadow Is Too Much For Youngsters – Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Messi’s shadow might be too much for some of the young footballers in Argentina, according to the national team manager, Lionel Scaloni.

The manager is definitely hoping Messi is available in the coming future as Argentina are expecting another Copa America competition.

He pointed out that Messi being around is not always an advantage for the team and those he chooses to play alongside the legend.

His words to TNT Sports, “The shadow of him which hangs over the pitch might be too much for some of the youngsters.

“We are always asking about him. In the matches he’s played for the national team, it’s very rare that he hasn’t given his all.

“The best thing we can do is ask for everyone else to perform as they do for their clubs.”

“We need to take advantage of the fact he’s on the pitch with us.

“He’s the greatest player of all time but on the pitch he needs to be just another person who helps us win.

“We need him on the ball. What we need to do if he drops deep is another player goes into his position in attack. Leo is a forward, creates assists and the closer he is to the goal the better.”

On Argentine stars leaving the country for greener pastures, “I do not think it’s true that the best are there, in Europe. What is evident is that, on an economic level, the best players of 18 or 20 years of age are at the best clubs in the world.

“The best thing for us would be that most clubs can keep top talents in Argentine football for another year, so we can enjoy them a little more and the player would go to Europe being a more complete player.

“Most of the guys who leave for Europe see themselves as one for the future, as promising, and we never see it where they go to Europe already being a phenomenon.”