Argentina’s national team coach Lionel Scaloni said on Tuesday that there is a “willingness on both sides” to renew his contract, which expires in December.
It was the clearest indication yet that World Cup winner Scaloni, 48, will extend his time in charge of the national team. The former right back, however, stressed that talks over his future have only just begun.
Regarded as the architect of the Albiceleste’s golden era, Scaloni put his future in doubt with comments he made after Argentina’s loss in the World Cup final to Spain in July.
But after talks with Argentine Football Association (AFA) Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, the coach now looks set to stay in charge of the national team, which began in 2018.
“We hadn’t spoken after the World Cup. We got together to see if we can move forward and reach an agreement,” Scaloni said at a press conference in Ezeiza, south of Buenos Aires, on Tuesday.
“I want to continue with the national team,” he stressed.
“There is willingness on both sides, but we have only just started talking,” he added.
Scaloni said he would not listen to offers from other teams while his contract with Argentina remained in force.
Asked about the potential departure of his assistant coach Walter Samuel, who is rumoured to be considering a new challenge, Scaloni said losing him would be a significant blow to the coaching staff.
Life after Messi
Scaloni, who has led the team to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar and two Copa América triumphs during his time in charge, is already planning for life after Lionel Messi, who will bid farewell to fans in Buenos Aires next week in the last of three friendly matches Argentina have lined up over the next week and a half.
The trio of matches begins with a clash against Bolivia in Córdoba on Wednesday night. Argentina then host Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6 at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Messi will play in the match against Benin, which is expected to be an emotional farewell featuring the members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad.
“Leo is expected to arrive this weekend, after the match on the 3rd [of October]. If he wants to come and play on the 3rd, he can,” Scaloni said.
‘Think it through’
Scaloni said he had needed time after the World Cup to assess his future and stressed that the team’s sporting prospects would be a key factor in his final decision, alongside financial considerations.
“I had to think it through carefully, look at it and analyse the sporting side of things,” he said.
Scaloni said he would not have started talks had he not seen the potential to build a competitive team.
Asked about the future without Messi, he said the team had played well in previous matches when the captain was unavailable.
“It’s undeniable that he is an indispensable player. Fortunately, in the matches when he hasn’t been there, the team has responded. We have young players who can contribute,” he said.
“Beyond what he is as a player, I have never seen anyone generate what Messi generates, both on and off the pitch. But we have people who can provide leadership and, above all, we have good people. We’re not looking for a caudillo; we’re looking for positive people. Together we’ll try to make up for what Leo did.”
Addressing the captaincy, Scaloni confirmed the order of succession and that Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero would be wearing the armband moving forward.
“The captain after Leo and [defender Nicolás] Otamendi was ‘Cuti.’ The second will be Emiliano Martínez and the third Lautaro [Martínez].
“The captain, Cuti, is a great player and has accepted the responsibility of wearing the armband. He will have to show what it means to be captain. Everyone will want to follow his example. We believe he can do it,” said the coach.
Number 10 shirt
Scaloni said the future of Argentina’s iconic number 10 shirt had yet to be decided.
“Until Leo’s final match, we won’t give the number 10 shirt to anyone. After that, we’ll see. The idea is for someone to take it, with everything that comes with it,” he said.
“We know the new boys, we have references and we’ve been monitoring them. They show that they want to be here and are very eager. We’ll give them the chance to play so they can contribute.
“There is a changing of the guard now, but with a more solid base than when we started this cycle with the national team. There are people we can trust and that gives us peace of mind, although we know that doesn’t guarantee results,” added Scaloni.
The former Deportivo La Coruña full-back said he had virtually decided on his starting XI for the next match, although he still had one final training session to watch over.
“I have the team more or less confirmed. We have training today and the players still don’t know; we’ll tell them after the session,” he said.
The coach said he would use the friendlies to assess different options in both attack and defence, though he said the principles that have defined his tenure would be retained.
“Our football goes through the ball, through bringing together players who play well. I don’t think that will change,” he said. The identity won’t change: it is about having the ball.”
– TIMES/AFP/NA
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