The Argentine coach spoke at a press conference one day before the crucial match between the Albiceleste and the Tri
The Mexican coach, Argentine Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, believes that his fellow countryman Lionel Messi will have "a bad afternoon" on Saturday in the crucial match between both teams in the second round of the Qatar World Cup.
The needs are not so different. For us it is also key, although now we have one more point. Argentina has played, especially at the beginning of Lionel Scaloni's cycle, waiting and attacking spaces. It has been changing, now it plays a leading role in the matches, with a lot of interior play. We will address both situations, that the game passes through playing it with our own idea and also thinking about moments when it does not go as we think. Against such a powerful team, we must not mortgage the possibility of winning the match by the style.
'The best for Mexico'
"I know where I was born, the name of the clinic, the characteristics of my city in Argentina... But I have to do everything possible for Mexico to win. I do not overlook the importance of the match for both teams, the future depends a lot on what happens tomorrow. When the draw was made, we did not imagine a scenario like tomorrow's. But we work for Mexico and we want the best for Mexico."
Reunion with Messi
Martino and Messi coincided for three years, the first at Barcelona (2013-14) and then in the Argentine national team (2014-16), a cycle that ended with two consecutive defeats in the Copa America final against Chile.
"Those who have faced Lionel will say the same. Stopping him is more about him having a bad afternoon than what we can do. But we always have to prepare the match thinking that he will give his best version. Although sometimes without having 90 minutes at his best, he can solve it in five. We have to be very attentive."
Rising rivalry
"The histories of both teams have very little to do with each other. It has more to do with what happens outside, with both teams bringing many people to the World Cup. We prepare with the hope of reaching as far as possible, regardless of the opponents we face. It is clear that the panorama, especially after Argentina's defeat to Arabia, has changed. What would not have been a key match, ends up being one. We have to face it like that. A favorable result puts us almost in a situation to qualify for the round of 16."
Scaloni and evolution
Martino and Scaloni, whose age difference is 16 years, briefly coincided in Newell's, when the first was an idol and the second was 16 years old. "I could say a very big lie, but I don't remember anything," joked the Tri coach.
"Since he has been with the national team, the team has had an evolution. He has set a project in motion and the players have aligned themselves. The style of play has been changing, until what it has shown in the last year, very different from the beginning. He has transformed the team and is one of the title contenders."
Falling in love with Canada
"We all saw the Belgium-Canada game (1-0). For me, the first half was a Canadian clinic. It was a nice surprise, the best football expression I have seen in the first round. Among the big teams, Spain has stood out, as well as the second half of Brazil. In World Cups, surprises happen in the group stage, the big teams can make mistakes, but later they don't."