Alexis Mac Allister firmly dreams of going to the World Championship in Qatar: “Except Leo, we are all fighting for a place”

Behind the dazzling light that Lionel Messi radiated with his record scoring the five goals in the victory against Estonia, the match in Pamplona was a litmus test for several national team players that Lionel Scaloni followed with particular attention. One of these is Alexis Mac Allister, the English midfielder of Brighton who step by step wants to enter the final list of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The 23-year-old from the Pampa was supposed to be a starter on the Osasuna pitch, but as five, an unprecedented position for him in the national team, even if he has already reached it once in the Premier League. Mac Allister approved his performance in a match that was crossed by the figure of 10who got all the stares and praises.

“We are very happy with the performance of the team and with Leo’s game. There are no words to describe it,” said the former Argentinos and Boca. Clarione in an interview in a mixed zone, before returning to Bilbao with the delegation to be released and start the holidays.

-What about Messi?

-Always the most important thing is that Leo is okay. If Leo is fine, we know we have a chance to win in all games. We see him happy, he feels very identified with the group and this is very important. Leo is amazing. What surprised me, I think was on the fourth goal, when it looks like they committed a foul and he runs to the goal and looks at the referee. It seems like it gives you time for everything. It is something from another world.

-How did you feel playing 5?

-Good. It’s a new position and of course I have to keep learning things. But overall I was fine. It will be important for me to be able to continue growing in these months to be able to continue fighting for a chance in the World Cup. I need to understand what the coach wants in that position.

-Does it give you an advantage to be able to give the DT the ability to adapt to any position in the middle?

-Safe. In Brighton I played in all three positions. I also played false nines. This is important for a player, to give options to the team and the manager. For me it was a step forward this season. I have grown a lot.

-A little more than five months left in Qatar, do you think about the World Cup list?

-Obviously the player thinks about it all the time because he wants to be there. But Lionel (Scaloni) was very clear: apart from Leo, we are all fighting for a place. And that’s what we will do until the last day. I am living a dream. We are close to the World Cup and the only thing I will do is keep working so that when that list arrives, I can see me in there.

-Internally do you feel favored for the World Cup?

-Leo already said, we are not candidates. There are a lot of very strong teams like Spain, France, England. But this team is here to fight. This team knows that if they leave everything on the pitch, they will have a chance. Let’s go that way.

-What balance do you create on this European tour?

-Luckily we managed to win at Wembley, which was a very important match for the group. It was played very well. And in the other friendly, Leo was decisive. You don’t win a final every day, and even more so against a rival like Italy. It is a cup that has not been played for a long time. It was important for the team, the operation and the trust. And to show that this national team is also up to playing against European teams. We hope to be able to continue along the same path.

– Did you think you would get so much support from people in England and Spain?

-The people thing was crazy. We know that sometimes they come to support Leos from different countries. But we know a lot of people came from Argentina, my mother told me that she came from there. She told me it was unbelievable the people crossing at airports. We thank you for everything you do for us. We try to give them joy on the pitch.

Pamplona. Special delivery.