Lionel Scaloni: why Messi reacted against the Netherlands, “I never saw the final again”, and the message that moved him the most after winning the World Cup

Lionel Scaloni is located in Spain and, from his home in Mallorca, he opened the doors to Cadena Cope to review everything that happened in the World Cup in Qatar: Messi, the hot match against the Netherlands, why Leo is the best in history, the emotional moment before the final against France and more. A final that, according to what he said, he hasn’t seen yet. Below, the most significant phrases of the DT of the Selection.

Scaloni’s best quotes

Worst time in Qatar: “The match against Mexico at halftime, we had to make the players understand the moment we were living. We were 0-0, maybe it was to say Barracas take charge to win the match yes or yes and we lost it. There was “We had to have our heads to see that Mexico offered us a hard-fought match and that if it ended in a draw we had one more chance. As manager of the national team, it bothers me to say it, but we had to tell him. The game opened with Leo’s goal, we were convinced it had to open.”

Messi vs Holland: “It was a crazy game. I said it at the press conference. It was played as it should be played. They provoked him. His coach said that when Leo had no ball he was one down. That in 2014 he had no touched the ball. All that excites you. If you punch Messi… After the match it was hot but no more than normal. Some made fun of us, them and ours. When they attack you, you have to hit back. Now, attack to attack or attack, no. Well, if they attack you, we fight back.”

Messi is the best in history: “It’s easy to describe and talk about Leo. I drive him and I know him well. I was a teammate and I was the opponent. The best in history. Maradona was great for us. If I have to stay it is logical. They are both Argentinian, I have something special with Leo. When I have to talk to him about something, I write to him. Not much. The relationship has always been good”.

The message that moved him the most after the World Cup: “I can’t tell you how many messages, some I don’t even know who. Because it’s been 20 days, I deleted contacts, everything. I decided to have privacy and peace of mind. Always the one from the family that moved me the most. The first thing I I do is call someone from the family. Or make a video call. We have a group. The first thing I always do, after every game, is talk to them. Family is the first thing that comes to mind. I can’t think of anything other “.

The end: “I never saw it again, but it’s in my head. Up until the 80th minute I knew the match was spectacular. From then on it was different. I have the images and I have them in my head. I think it was a shame I didn’t close it in the 90′, I understood correctly”.

Dibu save on Kolo Muani: “I’ve seen it in the pictures. They show it to you everywhere on TV. It’s a heavy picture. If I see it again, it could come in, ha. It was a key move. That’s where it ended. It would have been very unfair.”

The technical speech of the final: “It was very emotional. It was four years working for that moment. I could say little, but it was exciting. We prepared the match, telling them what we thought we had to do to win it. Thanks to the four years we have lived. Stop there because we couldn’t continue. We called the coaching staff to help me, someone couldn’t either. It was the final moment.”

Draw Martinez: “He has a character that has given us a lot, he has given us a lot. We needed a character like that. I recognize myself in him in some things when he was in the national team. I was a united boy, he was great, he always had a beautiful face. And ‘ a bit like that and what’s more he’s a great goalkeeper. There are attitudes, surely Emiliano won’t be happy, but he’s a spectacular boy. He’s a boy, he’s impressive and a good boy. Everything he gave us. He’s a discovery among the many that we wandered around. It gave us enormous joy”.

Mateu Lahoz, the referee of Argentina vs. Holland: “Look, he has my first shirt in a Málaga against Mallorca in the Copa del Rey. It was his first or second match. I gave him my shirt. From there a great relationship was born. For me he is a great referee, I have no doubts. The game was not easy for him. Everything that had happened in the previous days. He overheated. We didn’t help him take it easy. I said it at the press conference that he had played a good game and he had had an influence and had no problems. The match was very hot, too much. He knew everything that had been set up. Unfortunately everything that happened happened. We didn’t help him”.

Renewal: “I’m going to Buenos Aires to sit down with the president of the AFA and we’ll see if we reach an agreement to renew. That’s the idea. I don’t know the idea that I will travel. When I go we will announce what is to be.”

Other quotes from Scaloni

Impact: “I thought my life would be more peaceful after the World Cup, getting out isn’t as easy as before. I thought my life would be more peaceful after the World Cup, exiting now. It’s not as easy as before.”

It looks football like… “As a player I was a lot of balls, heart, claw… I wouldn’t have a place in this Argentine national team. I look like De Paul, but it’s much better”

Would you direct another Selection? “Coach Spain one day? Why not? Spain has given me so much and it’s my second home. Luis de la Fuente taught me in the coaching course and he’s a good guy.”