Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli says that compatriot Lionel
Messi should be the pride of Argentina rather than
criticised for his failure to deliver a major trophy.
Messi was in top form on his return from suspension
and scored twice as Barcelona extended Sevilla’s slump
in a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
Messi and Maradona
But while he is a hero at the Camp Nou, Messi has not
always had the same adulation in his homeland.
“There is a necessity for some people to win something
solely thanks to Leo,” said Sampaoli, who has been
linked with taking over as Argentina boss for the rest of
their faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.
“That seems like too much of a burden to me for a
player who has given everything and who makes all of
Argentina proud that he is the best in the world.”
Messi was handed a four-match international ban for
insulting an assistant referee in a 1-0 win over Chile on
March 24.
Without the five-time World Player of the Year, Argentina
then lost 2-0 to Bolivia to fall to fifth in South American
World Cup qualifying with only the top four guaranteed
their places in Russia next year.
Widespread reports in Argentina over the weekend
claimed that Sampaoli would be the leading candidate
for the job if coach Edgardo Bauza is sacked before the
two-time world champions’ next qualifier, away to
Uruguay on August 31.
Messi has been a beaten finalist three times with
Argentina, at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016
Copa America.
After missing a penalty in a shootout defeat to Chile in
2016 he briefly announced his retirement from
international football before reversing that decision two
months later.
Messi should be the pride of Argentina rather than
criticised for his failure to deliver a major trophy.
Messi was in top form on his return from suspension
and scored twice as Barcelona extended Sevilla’s slump
in a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
Messi and Maradona
But while he is a hero at the Camp Nou, Messi has not
always had the same adulation in his homeland.
“There is a necessity for some people to win something
solely thanks to Leo,” said Sampaoli, who has been
linked with taking over as Argentina boss for the rest of
their faltering World Cup qualifying campaign.
“That seems like too much of a burden to me for a
player who has given everything and who makes all of
Argentina proud that he is the best in the world.”
Messi was handed a four-match international ban for
insulting an assistant referee in a 1-0 win over Chile on
March 24.
Without the five-time World Player of the Year, Argentina
then lost 2-0 to Bolivia to fall to fifth in South American
World Cup qualifying with only the top four guaranteed
their places in Russia next year.
Widespread reports in Argentina over the weekend
claimed that Sampaoli would be the leading candidate
for the job if coach Edgardo Bauza is sacked before the
two-time world champions’ next qualifier, away to
Uruguay on August 31.
Messi has been a beaten finalist three times with
Argentina, at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016
Copa America.
After missing a penalty in a shootout defeat to Chile in
2016 he briefly announced his retirement from
international football before reversing that decision two
months later.
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