Pochettino: I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is almost silly
Former Paris Saint-Germain manager, Mauricio Pochettino says the debate over Lionel Messi's defensive work is silly.
could win the World Cup when
Argentinafaces France in the final on Sunday. Argentina has won the
World Cuptwo times and this is their sixth final appearance.
This game is the 26th World Cup appearance for Messi which makes him the World Cup appearance record holder.
Pochettino who managed Messi at PSG has defended him against accusations that he has a weak work ethic on the pitch and compared him with Pele and Diego Maradona.
"Honestly, I think the debate about Messi's defensive work is so stale, almost silly,"
he wrote in The Athletic.
"You cannot pretend that [Diego] Maradona or Pele — along with Messi, the most important players in football — were focused on trying to win the ball back. He can't participate in that. He just needs the others to run for him.
"He doesn't need to press. When you have Messi, you need the other players to understand that they have to get the ball and give it to him so he can conserve his energy and then be decisive, as shown.”
Argentina under Lionel Scaloni in the 2022 World Cup has just conceded 5.7 shots per game and they have not faced above 0.6 expected goals against in their last six games.
Pochettino insisted Argentina’s work ethic has been crucial in reaching the final.
"Of course, Argentina need Messi, but Messi needs the other 10 players to fight for him at all times,"
he added.
"That's one of the keys to this team: they all believe that playing for Messi, they can win the World Cup.
"You can see that the players give 120 per cent to achieve this. Different players: [Rodrigo] De Paul, [Alexis] Mac Allister, [Enzo] Fernandez, [Julian] Alvarez, they give everything they have and more, and they do it for Messi.
"They give everything because it's their dream, they are so close, and when they have Messi, they know that everything is possible.
"That's the most important thing about this Argentina team, and the reason why they are in the final. It's because the players fully understand their role. When you have Messi in your team, you have to run for him.
"And when you have the ball, you have to give it to him as soon as possible so that he can create something. So, the players know what they have to do at all times: to give Messi everything he needs to be decisive."
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