Otamendi shines at Benfica, fans say: “He’s a player…” | OneFootball

Lionel Scaloni, coach of Argentina, does not hide his admiration for the dedication that Nicolás Otamendi has for the country of the pampas. Asked about the Benfica captain – who announced his last game for the Albiceleste – the coach decided to highlight the important role the 37-year-old defender has played.

In an interview with the media of the country of the pampas, the coach who led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar made a revelation about the dedication the 37-year-old center-back has for his country: “He came to play injured, sometimes against the decision of his club [Benfica], and that says a lot.”

After explaining that these were not very serious physical problems, Lionel Scaloni said he intended to give Otamendi a rest, but the player made him change his mind: “My idea was to let him rest, but I talked to him and, in fact, he deserved to play that match and deserves recognition.”

Despite being 37 years old, Nicolás Otamendi, so far, is the only ever-present player under Bruno Lage at the start of Benfica’s official season, and Scaloni once again emphasized his influence on the South American team: “He is one of those who helped us a lot, not only in football, but also within the group. Wearing this shirt means everything. For us, he is a very important player.”

“He didn’t play in the last Copa América and was very important in the moments when he had to come on to defend when the opponents were attacking, and that is part of his understanding of what it means to wear this shirt. That’s why I think he will be remembered for everything he gave us and is one of the historic players who deserves all the recognition and, without a doubt, will be the captain tomorrow,” he added in conclusion.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.