“He knows football 10 times more than me”: Scaloni interrupted the press conference of the coach who considers his footballing father

After the 3-1 victory of the Argentine national team against Costa Rica, Lionel Scaloni In the end he had the best moment of the day when he left the stadium. The thing is He had the pleasure of meeting again and spending some time hugging Claudio Vivaswhich considers “his footballer father“and he didn’t hesitate to praise in front of the cameras.”This guy knows 10 times more about football than me.“He commented with a smile from ear to ear.

What was Vivas doing in Los Angeles, let alone near the stadium? He is part of the Costa Rican team. From the beginning of 2023 He holds the position of sporting director of Costa Rica’s national teams and football development. Precisely in that role he was speaking to the press after the friendly match, when a Scaloni who accompanied the Argentine delegation saw him from afar.

Respectfully, the world champion coach first touched Vivas on the shoulder. After they both exchanged a look, they hugged each other and interrupted the press conference.

“This is great, he made me play when I was little at Newell’s. He is my football father, mine and my brother’s, so I appreciate him a lot,” Scaloni explained, revealing the influence Vivas had on his sporting life.

Furthermore, he took advantage of the presence of several Costa Rican reporters and warned them of good wishes for the future thanks to the help of Marcelo Bielsa’s former assistant. “You’ve already seen it. This competes and will give you joy. Furthermore, I appreciate it very much, I love it very much. His career supports him, it’s not me, it’s more than just words“He commented visibly excited and with an indelible smile.

And as the icing on the cake, before leaving for the bus to Argentina, he added: “He knows football 10 times more than me. Don’t doubt it. listen to me“. The words would later be exchanged in private as they hugged again.

Left alone in front of the microphones, Vivas returned Scaloni’s praise. “It is a great satisfaction that he made that gesture. I respect him very much, I know him and I love him and his family very much.“, he expressed.

Vivas’ story with Newell’s began when he was little: he played in the youth team as a goalkeeper until the age of 18. He decided to retire early because he didn’t have the ideal height to stand under the three sticks and focus everything on youth training.

During this process, it will be precisely in one of the many youth categories of lepers he appointed that he will meet the Scaloni brothers. A legacy that has lasted over the years.

Scaloni and a tough message for the Copa América list

On the one hand the world champions. On the other hand, new names of talented young people are popping up and starting to ask for advice. In the middle, Lionel Scaloni and “the big problem” of putting together the squad for the Copa América. Only 23 places for different names that are starting to compete with each other. Now the time has come for DT to raise the bar and lower a message for all its objectiveswarning that no one has their place assured, except for their two greatest weaknesses.

“Guarantee, to none of those who came here, only to those who didn’t come and you already know it (by Lionel Messi). The rest, pickaxe and shovel. Well, we will also put Fideo, he is also guaranteed“Scalioni said this, short on his feet, in the press conference after the victory against Costa Rica.

The possibilities for possible changes occur in all lines, from goalkeepers to forwards. In this call, the names of Walter Benítez, Alejandro Garnacho, Valentín Carboni, Facundo Buonanotte, Valentín Barco and Nicolás Valentini They were the ones that resonated strongly and made space thanks to the absence of many traditional ones.

But Scaloni doesn’t go beyond neutrality even when he talks about the boys’ performance. “They are guys who can give us a contribution and we will see in the future if they will be with us. But I’m happy, it’s not easy to play with this shirt and with these rivals who put you in difficulty. “We’re fine,” she explained. “In the world of football nothing is known“He added.

He also elaborated on the excess of variations available to him in midfield, using this sector of the pitch as an excuse to tone down his message again. “The team has always had many good midfielders. Exequiel (Palacios) didn’t come on this tour, Guido (Rodríguez) is also out, Thiago (Almada) is in the Under 23s. We are well covered and, if someone’s performance drops, there is someone else to play with. Let no one betray themselves because those who are better play“, the coach warned again.

Likewise, it is nothing new that Scaloni chooses to use players of the highest level. He had already made it clear when in the days before the World Cup in Qatar he disillusioned those who were not in optimal physical condition. Now, it seems he’s back at the same game.

“Today there are 25 called up here, 24 Lisandro have left and many others who have not come due to injury, so we would say that the quota is exhausted. Despite this, some may enter because they had a good end to the season. We don’t have any problems“he said in recent days.

The Copa América begins on June 20, although the FIFA window will begin with two warm-up friendlies at the start of the month. Everything therefore seems to point to mid-May, when the current dilemma of the world champion team will be revealed. Meanwhile, the protagonists will try to seduce the bosses of their respective clubs.