Scaloni delivers blunt self-criticism after Argentina beat Mauritania | OneFootball

Argentina beat Mauritania 2-1 at La Bombonera, and Lionel Scaloni, coach of the national team, admitted that his players did not play a good match in the first of the two friendlies they will play during this FIFA window.

At the press conference, Scaloni acknowledged that “it’s true that the match wasn’t good, that’s the reality,” although he stressed that “a great many conclusions can be drawn” from this performance.

“As we always say, there are no easy opponents,” the coach added, and reiterated: “Today the team was not good. That has to be said and corrected. I’m not worried as such. There are things to correct, as always, and it’s better for them to happen now.”

“Sometimes, when we try something different, the way the team functions can suffer, especially if there isn’t much time,” reflected Scaloni, who started with a team without Lionel Messi and changed practically the entire starting eleven during the second half.

In the second half, he even decided to take off Julián Alvarez and tried Messi as the most advanced player alongside Enzo Fernández (first) and Thiago Almada (later).

Scaloni acknowledged that “it’s clear that we can play much better, and we have done so,” and analyzed: “All the young players we were able to see contributed their part, but when a match becomes complicated, it’s more difficult.”

Scaloni also referred to Argentina’s World Cup opponents, who also played this Friday: Austria, Jordan, and Algeria.

“We watched a bit of our World Cup opponents. Like everyone else, they’re tough, because they also play at 100 percent, and a tournament like that is decided by small details. Luckily, we’re already forewarned thanks to the experience of our debut at the last World Cup,” he reflected.

Lastly, Scaloni referred to the serious injury Joaquín Pachinelli suffered in the last training session, which will keep him off the pitch for several months.

“What happened yesterday was very sad. He was training in an incredible way. I send him a big hug, and also Juan (Foyth), they’re incredible guys,” Scaloni said.

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