Lucas BIGLIA gave a lengthy interview with La Nacion where he spoke about the Argentina National Team, retirement, the World Cup, Lionel MESSI and much more.
After getting criticized by Diego MARADONA, AC Milan midfielder replied back to the World Cup winner while also giving his opinion on the current crop of players. The following was translated by Juan G. ARANGO. Here’s what BIGLIA had to say:
Lucas BIGLIA comments on himself:
“I get very upset at myself, regardless of whether I win or lose a match. I look over everything and I discover that I missed here and I messed up there. It was never complete. In Finland (2003 U20 World Cup), I had the misfortune of injuring my shoulder in the semifinal we lost to Spain, in (2005 U20 World Cup) Netherlands, I came in during the second half for Fernando GAGO and in Brazil I was a starter, but we ended up exhausted.
The differences between Germany and Argentina:
“Germany took a 36 year old player (Miroslav KLOSE) for just one reason – to be the all-time leading scorer in World Cups. He then became a World Cup winner. Germany’s intention was to have Mr. Miroslav KLOSE make history. They left out Mario GOMEZ, who had a spectacular season… Meanwhile in Argentina we decide to doubt people that have given so much to the Argentina, people that never shied away from the team despite being criticized. In Argentina, they put on a show, and the most harmful was what people bought.
“When we stepped onto the pitch, we lost that feeling with them, because people bought that ‘show’ and then they took it with them to the stadium. When we left for Brazil, we were under the microscope. People were suspicious of us. After that, the results were what changed everyone’s perspective. No one expected us to get to the final, that was the reality.
Lucas BIGLIA on the media and Lionel MESSI’s “friends”:
“I was not going to blame the journalists, and many paid (the price) for others, but there was a ‘show’ that was made and they massacred us. That ‘show’ destroyed the connection we had with the people, even losing that feeling we had with them after the World Cup. I am not going to blame the media, we didn’t give everything that was expected of us and we didn’t achieve the goal. After we qualified against Ecuador, we spoke to the press again, we left a clear message. If we are together, we are much stronger.’
“The other day, I saw the ‘show’ again. Who had to be in? Who had to be out? MESSI’s friends. MASCHERANO. They already had a World Cup list up. You try to do things rights and it’s still no good. Of course, there are interests in media, that’s why they corrupt any relationship. Interests? (I mean) bad intentions, those types of interests that are there to hurt someone. Anyone can see that.
“(So much stupidity) hurts. Now there’s talk of MESSI’s friends. The fact that we have a good relationship with him, that we know each other for years, doesn’t allow people to say such stupid things. In the end, everything contaminates. I try not to read or hear anything. Instead of improving, growing, we destroy everything that costs us so much to get. For us Argentine’s, it is twice as hard. It is us that destroy everything we create.
Lucas BIGLIA replies to Diego MARADONA:
“I respect MARADONA’s opinion and I am fine with it. It was always my dream to play for Argentina. Thank God I did since I was 14. I am no one to answer him, I am not at his level to respond. I see him as an idol and want to conserve that image (of him).
Lucas BIGLIA on Lionel MESSI:
“MESSI is still then same (from 2005). He hasn’t changed. As a footballer, he’s grown immensely. While some of us grow step by step, he grows 10 steps at a time. He makes us stronger. Without him, we’d just be normal. He loves football. He watches any match. It doesn’t matter from what country or what division. Leo sits down and watches it.
“What has shocked me the most is how he has grown as a leader. A leader is not only the one that screams, each one has their way. He just has a way of getting in front of his teammates. He’s particular (as a leader) because he is so introverted. He doesn’t speak much… He just says the right words. The words he says to you in the dressing room and on the pitch are the necessary ones. If I say it, it sounds one way. When he does, it sounds totally different. He says it and it motivates you twofold.
“That makes him more of a leader that keeps tabs on everything around him, his teammates, his friends, his family and his coaching staff. He worries about everyone. His world is the one that surrounds him. If everything there is fine, you will see (MESSI) at his best.
On the FIFA World Cup:
“Our group is complicated. We play against the revelation of Europe (Iceland). After that Croatia who play some attractive football and then come Nigeria who just won AFCON. It won’t be easy. It will depend on how we work in each match and what we did in World Cup Qualifiers.
“On paper Spain, Germany and Brazil are favorites to win. These are teams that have worked with an established idea for an extended period of time. Germany have played like that for 12 years, Spain about the same. When you have a style, you have an advantage.
“We are behind the contenders. Keep in mind that during that time, we had three coaches and we had enormous changes within Argentine football. When there were changed like that, it is difficult at first. We paid for that dearly during World Cup Qualifiers also because we started out poorly.
On retirement:
“I considered leaving (Argentina) when MESSI retired. After the Copa America in the US, after missing the penalty in the shootout I asked, ‘should I keep going through this abuse?’
“After the moment subsides, you start to see new objectives. I want to keep going because it makes me happy. Why do I want to play for my club? Because I want to be called up by the national team. I want to represent my country. I want to play in big tournaments.
“There are many positives in (the three lost finals). But no one will ever remember who’s in second place. I think in all of our minds we have one thought- after all this suffering, there must be a tremendous prize awaiting us.
“Football has taught us that it is not about merits. We have had the consistency, we worked towards obtaining better results and nothing. Now we hope to have that bit of luck that that up to now we haven’t had.
Lucas BIGLIA on Javier MASCHERANO:
“Mascherano has given me a huge hand since the beginning. When you have a player like him beside you, it simplifies things. For a coach to have a “coach” on the pitch is a huge advantage. On the pitch, if you observe him, you will learn something all the time.
“If playing for Argentina is already pressure-packed, imagine playing with MASCHERANO on the bench. I hope he finds what he’s looking for- playing as a 5 once again. I hope he does well. If he does that will only help the national team grow. Only in Argentina do the doubt him.
Lucas BIGLIA on the past/present:
“Many people will have to recognize this generation in the end. I remove myself from this conversation. I just hope everyone can close out their international career as best as possible. Many have been harshly criticized, as was the case before them.
“We criticized VERON. We said that (his career) was going backwards, because he was playing in the Premier League. Look at how us Argentine’s are.
“But with this generation, one day they will say, ‘we don’t have an AGUERO, a DI MARIA, an HIGUAIN, a MASCHERANO.’ It is going to happen, because football is like that, not because we say it is. Today we miss BATISTUTA, AYALA, VERON, ZANETTI because there are no players like them. ‘You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone,’ as the saying goes.
Lucas BIGLIA on the number 9 situation:
“(ICARDI) is another show. Here in Italy, they had me play a game and they asked me who I would have as a number nine on my team. Beyond ICARDI’s form or Dario BENEDETTO before his injury, the 9 I’d always pick is HIGUAIN. This has nothing to do with my relationship with him, although I have a great relationship with him, but it’s based on footballing taste.
“(HIGUAIN) is everything that I would like to have in a 9 if I were to be a coach. I didn’t say he has to come back to Argentina. I just said I hope that he gets another opportunity because he looks like he wants to come back.
“I don’t want to ‘put’ anyone on the team. ICARDI is there. BENEDETTO is there. Hopefully he recovers in time. There is also this kid Lautaro MARTINEZ, who is having an extraordinary season in Argentina. There are many players. But if you ask me, I want HIGUAIN on my team.”
Banega is easily the most frustrating player in history, the guy has BAGS of talent and on his day he’s easily one of the best but he’s inconsistent to the point that he’s unreliable.
Banega as mentioned is inconsistent, Biglia is too one dimensional, Lanzini’s fitness is in question and Lamela hasn’t fully recovered his form quite yet.
But not to fret because Paredes, Enzo, Acuna, Pity Martinez and even the likes of A.Correa, Vasquez and Papu Gomez (both as CAM) are all available options in the midfield so Argentina isn’t as lacking in the midfield options as some people would like us to believe.
Ever Bangea created 10 chances last match, highest this season in UCL, highest since Ozil’2011. His game by numbers:
Passes completed: 87
Pass accuracy: 82.9%
Long balls completed: 7
Key passes: 10
Tackles: 5
Dispossessed: 0
Duels won: 8
Top passer of UCL’18:
1.Banega: 680.
2.Busquets: 612.
3.Verratti: 595.
4.Otamendi: 586.
Biglia is in great shape, Paredes too. You have a wildcard in Lo Celso. Lamela and Lanzini can be option too. Sampaoli have no excuse if he can’t built a functioning midfield.
And the types of midfielders too. Before we slways hAd attacking or defensive midfielders and not anybody who could play as a real central midfielder. Now we have Banega, Lo Celso, Biglia and Paredes…all of whom plays deep.
I see absolutely no reason of not playing a 4-3-3.
It will get him called up but will all this energy disappear at the end of season when the World Cup comes along? What Banega will we see at the World Cup?
Main problem is in club so much money at stake so players give their all and in the process gets exhausted and when wc starts most of them r out of gas and don’t have any energy left for even running for 60-65 minutes so obviously they fail to perform in wc that’s the sad reality
Banega is doing well but I doubted him.Now he is going well.I think Banega Biglia Lanzini trio in midfield will be good.
Great game for Banega last night. He was everywhere: tackling, interception, long passing and keeping the ball. When he is at his best level, he is really exceptionnal.
Solid performance for Mercado too. Hard to play against this kind of defender who made Mata totally transparent.
With Biglia and Di Maria on the track, I start to be bullish again!
If we need a ‘big’ centre forward as an option, why isnt chucky(facundo ferreyra) considered? Just a thought.
yes bigilia you are right… germany want klose to make record ….. if you want higuain make record ( four in a row) final misses he will make new record no one beat this record… then argentina can call higuain this time….. if sampolli is clever enough… even he score 50 goals in a season … dont call him… this not club football…. argentina have many world class strikers
Totally agreed. But I think Sampaoli did not choose him because his style is not compatible with the new football philosophy of argentina which encourage ball possession and playing in small space, players need to be agile and technical and know playing in 1 touch. Higuain likes counter attack and space. It works fine with juve but definitely not working with barca.
@arjunanmessi LOL… nice come back.
In my opinion, GER can afford to call up Klose and have a German write his name into the history books because they can afford it. They have a winning mentality and a tried and tested system. I don’t know what that system is, it just works. Of course, I have the benefit of hindsight when I say this.
Unfortunately, the case for ARG and him is different… Between (a) calling him up and then he fails us yet again at the f#”king crucial moment vs (b) calling someone else up and then that person fails and we regret we should have called him up, I’d rather (b) because choosing (a) will just make ARG look like a fool. #justsaying #ididnotfailijustknowwhatdoesntwork
welcome paimar…..
The saga continues……. bench-warmer at best and I for one would want to have him on the team as opposed to not at all, but handing him the starting job as if NOTHING happened is bullshit.
No Hugain. He will bottle again.
arg2018: I concur
Icardi also not performed uptill now I prefer aguero over all play 4-4-2 with Messi and aguero upfront
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