Calcutta: Argentina captain Lionel Messi is happy that he has earned the respect of his teammates. “There are many things you need to become a captain. First and foremost you have to earn the respect of your team. I have earned and that’s very important,” Messi, while interacting with media persons from his native country, said on Saturday. Messi, who had his first match as full-fledged captain when Argentina played Venezuela, said that there was no extra pressure when he walked onto the pitch on Friday. “It was special, but nothing changes when you enter the pitch,” he said.
“When the offer came to me to lead Argentina, Javier (Mascherano) told me to go for it… Wearing the captain’s band is a big thing… I am proud to lead my country,” Messi said.
Messi, for the record, did lead Argentina during the 2010 World Cup match against Greece. But that was just a one-off case.
The superstar also said that he wants to form a good understanding with new coach Alejenadro Sabella. “He (Sabella) feels I will be at my best by playing in a position I prefer the most… In this particular aspect, his ideas are just like that of Diego (Maradona). He feels this is the way to get the best out of a player. He doesn’t believe in imposing things on players,” he said.
The striker is also of the opinion that Sabella should be considered for a longer term. “This hire-and-fire policy will not give us any success. We need Sabella to stay for a longer period. Under his guidance, our team can really scale greater heights,” he said.
However, according to the Argentine media, Messi, was not happy with Sergio Batista’s sacking. “Sacking is no remedy… We need continuity,” he said.
The Barca star doesn’t have too many goals for the national team. But he is not much bothered about that. “For Barcelona, I score almost unwittingly. The same cannot be said when I play for Argentina. But I am staying calm… Goals will come,” he said.
Messi also felt that Juan Roman Riquelme’s inclusion would help the Argentina team. “He is a very good player. We need a player like him. He is the player suited for our style of play. He can pull strings from the midfield. We need a player who can link up well with the frontliners. He will be very vital in World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
The Argentine was thrilled to see a huge crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium during Friday’s match. “I was thrilled to see such a huge turn-out. It feels great to be here.” The little magician was mobbed by fans after the match, but he said that he is okay with that. “I do not have any complaints against anyone,” he said.
The Argentines, meanwhile, had a training session at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday evening.
