Leandro Paredes commented on arriving at the 2022 World Cup with an injury, the save by Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez and Lionel Scaloni.
Paredes revealed that he got to the 2022 World Cup without being fully fit. The World Cup champion gave an interview to Sofi Martinez Mateos where he spoke about the World Cup. Here is what he had to say:
“I didn’t get to the World Cup 100%. I got there with pain in my adductors, in the pubis. 20 days later, I had a hamstring injury.
“I had a very bad time. I suffered and cried a lot here in Turin. I used to turn on the shower so no one would see me. I locked myself up alone and tried to get over my problems.
“The coach (Lionel Scaloni) called me and told me: ‘Get well, you’re going to be there. Don’t go crazy because you’re not going to miss the World Cup.'”
He also spoke about what it was like the day of the finals:
“The day before the final, we slept very well. We woke up calm, we had lunch and took a nap.
“The day of the final vs. Brazil at the Copa America was much more difficult. We all woke up at 7:00 am, like never before.”
The World champion was asked about the save by Emiliano Martínez on Kolo Muani in the last minute of the final:
“In the last one (play), Dibu saved us. He was there, 10 meters away. I knew it was very difficult for him to miss, it was just a matter of him saving us.
“To have a ball bouncing at the last minute in a WC final, it’s tough to miss.”
When asked about coach Lionel Scaloni:
“Winning is addictive. It was shown when I had to speak with Leo Scaloni after he won the Best award. I congratulated him and he said ‘now we have to go for more'”.
