From promise in the Scaloni national team to feeling like a former footballer: the harsh confession of Lucas Ocampos

Sevilla’s Argentine striker Lucas Ocamposwho returned to the Spanish club in the winter transfer market after a short-term loan deal at ajax Dutch, said he hasn’t felt like a player for four months and now has a chance to feel as “competitive” and “good” as he always has been.

The Quilmes striker reflected on club television on his feelings on his return, regarding the role played by his compatriot in his state George Sampaolicoach of Sevilleand on the team’s delicate situation after yesterday’s defeat against Barcelona.

“I’m already settling in and getting to know Sampaoli’s ideas. The situation isn’t easy, I had the chance to stay in Holland, but I never moved for the money, but for what football generates for me. I knew that the The situation was complicated, but I believed that by returning with the players and with the idea of ​​a new manager, I was sure that things would change and that’s how it’s happening.”

He felt they had “a big stumbling block with Barcelona, ​​​​​​which is the reality, but you also have to keep the previous matches.”

“The Barcelona thing hurt because we got to a good level and we felt good, but since Monday we already had our heads on Mallorca. We know it’s a final, which is at home and which are the points we need and we will face Cadiz and Elche” Ocampos said.

As for his adaptation after his return, the striker confessed that he didn’t feel like a player “four months ago, even if you then arrive, train for two days and have the opportunity to play at Sánchez-Pizjuán and it was very nice moment and then the chance to win closed that perfect day”.

“Jorge was simple when he explained it to me and I immediately understood the idea. He asks me to be open, to break into the space, things I do all the time but positioned in a specific way that he wants. I didn’t know Sampaoli at all, I I followed Marseille, but I didn’t know him,” he said.

The coach, he said, “seems like a person who lives 24 hours with a thousand laps, but in everyday life he transmits tranquillity”, even if “it is true that he transforms on matchdays”.

Ocampos made his international debut in October 2019, playing and converting in a 2-2 friendly draw against Germany in Dortmund. It was the fourth match of 36 that Argentina’s unbeaten record lasted. His arrival at the Albiceleste is part of the change promoted by the DT, with many young players who will later become the basis of the team.

Lucas played a total of 10 matches for the national team, three friendlies and seven in Qualifiers, contributing to qualification for the World Cup with some good performances, the best of which was the 1-0 draw against Ecuador in La Bombonera on 9 october, 2020. when he was a figure and they committed the penalty scored by Messi that defined the game.

Despite having been called up on the qualifying date before the Copa América, Lucas was excluded from the list that Scaloni had drawn up and which would have become champion at the Maracana. “As far as it comes to me, I will add and support you guys, good luck in this competition. Let’s go Argentina!”, The former River expressed in that difficult moment.

However, he was called up again at a later date. His last game with Albiceleste dates back to 30 March last year, at the end of the qualifiers for Qatar, when Argentina had already secured their place and many players were risking the opportunity to convince Scaloni. At 28, back in Seville, Ocampos will try to recover his best level first in the Spanish club and then he will dream of wearing the shirt with the three stars.