Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has shared why Lionel Messi started on the bench in last night’s friendly against Ecuador.
The Inter Miami captain returned to international action for the reigning world champions as Messi made a 30-minute cameo as a substitute in Argentina’s 1-0 win against Ecuador, with Herons’ target Angel Di Maria scoring the only goal of the game.
With Scaloni revealing over the weekend that Messi won’t play the entire match for Argentina, the FIFA World Cup-winning manager was true to his word as the 36-year-old attacker started the contest from the sideline.
And Scaloni has now shared why the decision was made to start Messi on the bench.
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Messi on the bench for Argentina vs Ecuador to avoid injury ‘risk’
Speaking to the press, the Argentina manager revealed that Messi was on the bench to avoid any unnecessary risk, with Scaloni detailing that the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Di Maria didn’t play the full 90 for the exact same reason.
With the South American giants the favorites for this summer’s Copa America, keeping key players fit like Messi will be key if Argentina are to retain their continental championship from the likes of Brazil and Uruguay.
And Scaloni’s reasoning to starting Messi on the bench will seemingly prove to be the right one, with the Inter Miami star easily Argentina’s most important player this summer in the Copa America.
Scaloni said: “There are times when there is no need to take risks, not only with Leo. Today, there are other players that didn’t play, like Otamendi. Di Maria had his minutes, Enzo came back after an operation. The idea is to take care of everyone a little and ensure that they arrive in optimal conditions.”
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Argentina have to do all they can to keep their captain as fit as possible
Messi’s influence in the Argentina national team is as big as it has ever been, and the reigning world champions must do all they can to ensure that their captain is as fit as possible for the Copa America.
Even at 36, Messi has the ability to do things that no other player on the planet is capable of doing, with Argentina’s hopes of more silverware potentially resting on the Inter Miami star’s shoulders.
And the fitter Messi is, the better the odds are of the South American giants coming away with the Copa America title again, with this summer’s tournament set to be a tight one.
