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Federico Fernandez comments on World Cup, Argentina team, coronavirus, more

Roy Nemer
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10

Federico Fernandez gave an interview with Ole where he discussed the Argentina national team, the 2014 World Cup, Lionel Messi and the coronavirus.

Fernandez hasn’t played in a tournament for Argentina since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He didn’t take part in the final but was part of the entire World Cup qualifiers as well as the friendly matches which lead to the World Cup. Here’s what he had to say about it all:

“No doubt about it, my time with the Argentina national team with Sabella, during the entire World Cup qualifying process, was something exceptional. I enjoyed it a ton. A good team was formed leading into the World Cup. A new coach came in, with new ideas but it wasn’t to be.

“I played six years in the Premier League, I played everything. And the coaches watch everything, they’re aware. I have to play well with Newcastle. If I get a call, I have to be ready.

“I have never closed any door in regards to the Argentina national team and I don’t believe the coach shuts anyone out. The idea is always there but I am also aware that it’s a new period with young players. If I get a call, great.”

In regards to the 2014 World Cup final:

“I can’t go back and watch that match. In general, Argentina were better, had the better chances. Everything was pointing towards the match going to penalty kicks and they won from a play out of nothing and it ended in a goal. Football is like that. In the end it’s like that, nothing and we couldn’t…”

About Lionel Messi:

“He won so much with Barcelona and it’s just not happening with the Argentina national team. They are different scenarios, playing with the national team is also easier, it’s less games, the competition is different. Hopefully with the years he has left, he can fight and bring the Argentina national team to another final. He fights until the end. As a fan, it’s what one wants.”

Regarding the coronavirus:

“We don’t know what will happen, there’s nothing official. It changes from one week to another, it depends on the virus. When they told us that we would all have to stay home, we thought it would all be inder control in two weeks. Now, we will supposedly be in training for the 15th of April, but I doubt it. I doubt it will start in May, I think it will get extended until June and July.”

Paulo Dybala says he has to give more for Argentina, Lionel Messi, coronavirus, more

Roy Nemer
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Paulo Dybala gave an interview with AFA Play where he spoke about the Argentina national team, playing alongside Lionel Messi and the coronavirus.

Dybala has been at Juventus for five years and has been part of the Argentina national team for the same amount of time. He spoke about when he got called up to the team. Here’s what he had to say:

“There was a lot of talk about me. I was 21 years old, there was a lot expected of me. There was talk saying “it’s now, in September”. I had just joined Juventues and when the list came out, I wasn’t there and there was some bitterness. Still, I went on and my family supported me. I was waiting, I continued to train and luckily things were going well for me.

“In October, it was the same. That I was going to get called up but I didn’t have any expectations because I didn’t want to get my hopes up and that month I got a call from Tata (Gerardo Martino). It was just immense joy.”

In regards to the Argentina national team, Dybala says he wants more while also putting pressure on himself:

“I would have liked to have achieved more. To be able to give more goals, more assists, better results, on a personal level as well. Because here at Juventus, I’ve always been able to do the things I wanted to do. And maybe with the Argentina national team, I haven’t been able to develop the same way playing the minutes I was planning on playing at the World Cup, at the Copa America. But I always tried to respect the decision of the coach because I know it’s a very prestigious spot where I always have to give the most and the coach puts who he thinks is better.

“I don’t know if I’m a perfectionist but I’m very demanding of myself. I try to see what I’m doing wrong to be able to improve on it. I like to talk to the coach, to give my best and they know what I’m missing. Here at Juventus, I’ve always played. I won important things, I reached a Champions League final, I scored goals. I think that what I’m doing here, I still have to do with the Argentina national team. I’m now 26 years old, I’m not 21.

He was also asked about his comments a few years ago where he said it was difficult to play alongside Lionel Messi:

“There was never any bad intention on my part but people wanted to see it differently. If we’re going to talk about football at a press conference, I’m not going to criticize a team mate. Even about Leo, what I meant is that tactically we are so similar, it’s normal that we find ourselves playing in the same position. I played five years there at Juventus, him 15 at Barcelona. We feel comfortable in the same position, the best is that the coach works on that. It’s obvious that I’m the one that has to change and look for space he isn’t occupying.

“It’s what happened vs. Chile up until they sent him off. We had worked on it with Lio Scaloni, I always tried to look at him, to see where he is, to find the holes. It was a question that I answered normally.”

The Argentina and Juventus man was asked about the coronavirus:

“It’s psychological. At the beginning, you’re scared. In principal, you try not to think that it’s that. But after that, one of my team mates had it (Rugani) and after that another (Matuidi) and I was the last one. Luckily we weren’t many at the club.

“I had a bad cough, I was tired and at night when I would sleep, I’d be cold. It was a bit of having to live with it, not becoming desparate and trying to be calm.

“Now we are good, much better. Those days, we didn’t have symptoms. Let’s say that she (his girlfriend Oriana) feels much better. I got tired quickly, I wanted to train and I would be out of breath after five minutes. From there, we knew that something wasn’t right and through tests they told us that we were positive.”

Ignacio Pussetto talks Argentina national team, Watford, more

Roy Nemer
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Ignacio Pussetto has stated that he wants to play for the Argentina national team while discussing his time with Watford.

A former team mate of Rodrigo De Paul at Udinese, the now Watford man has mentioned that the Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has asked about him. Speaking with TyC Sports, here’s what he had to say:

“Never did anyone from Italy talk with me. Yes, they spoke with my representative but I would like to wear the colors of my national team. One day, (Rodrigo) De Paul told me that Scaloni asked him about how I train and where I most feel comfortable. He follows me, I know that it’s a technical team staff which works hard to follow every play. I always said that if I continue to work hard, one day I will get the chance.”

Pussetto was asked about the 2022 World Cup:

“I always think about it. I’m focused on the Copa America. Although when you change clubs, there’s always that period of adaptation. I hope I get it.”

He was also asked about Watford and former club chairman Elton John and if he got the chance to meet him:

“I still haven’t gotten to meet him but I know that he goes to the stadium. We’ve played three matches at home since I Got here. I think he goes to the stands and stays there. There are pictures of him at the club, he’s very loved. Hopefully I’ll get to meet him, it would be great.

About his debut at Watford and while he didn’t score, he did save a goal from going in:

“I don’t know if I had a dream debut because as a forward, you dream of the goal but it’s always important to help the team. If (Gustavo) Alfaro (his former coach at Huracan) applauded me? Possibly, ha. I’ve gotten better in the defensive part of my game and I learned a lot with him about it. He instilled in me that I have to track back but the most important thing is to get to the opponent’s penalty area. I suffered.

“There were games where I was annoyed because defended a lot and it cost me but every sacrifice has its reward and bears fruition. I remember in one game vs. Temperley, at their pitch, that we were winning, we weren’t playing well and in the second half I was lucky to score.”

Nicolas Tagliafico talks Argentina, Lionel Messi, Ajax, becoming a coach

Roy Nemer
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Nicolas Tagliafico gave an interview where he spoke about the Argentina national team, Lionel Messi, his time with Ajax, retirement and wanting to become a coach.

Tagliafico has solidified his spot both with the Argentina national team as well as with his club Ajax. Speaking in an interview with Ole, the left back was asked about the Argentina national team and Lionel Messi. Here’s what he had to say:

“Lionel Messi, him, more than anyone, gets angry when we lose. But he’s more aware now that he has to enjoy the Argentina national team. We don’t know until when he will play but he won’t have too many Copa’s left with the Argentina national team. He’s in a place where he wants to enjoy everything, the training sessions, the matches. He is the leader and the protector of the team.

“I’ve been able to enjoy the Argentina national team. With Ajax, I had the chance to play against big and difficult opponents like Real Madrid and I enjoyed it. At times, with the national team it’s not easy because you’re thinking more about the result than the how. But if we have an idea and we are convinced, obviously it’s possible. Results rule but the way to start winning is to do what you feel.

“It’s not easy to get results right away because it takes time but there is an improvement. I see a strong team, a united team and a competitive team. That is very important. It’s a shame that we don’t have the World Cup qualifiers or the Copa America. We have players of high quality to be able to play any way. After that, we have to figure out the best way to be a competitive team and to be very strong.

“We have to find a very strong structure. Not only for Leo (Messi) but also for the future, for what’s coming. It’s good that a solid base is forming and we can’t undo that. If we could help Leo and he could help us, things will be much better. We have to create a structure and from there, we can start to grow.”

He also spoke about his move to Ajax and his retirement:

“Coming to Ajax made me grow as a player. Not only as a professional but also in the way I see football, tactically and technically. One has to prepare to play in a team with such a defined identity. Because if you don’t, you don’t play. The main difference is the idea of the game. Here, almost every team tries to play with the ball on the ground. In Argentina, you see something different lately. A football that is more physical, of trying to go for the second ball. Also, aggressively speaking, it’s different. Here, the football is more peaceful, it’s calmer. In Argentina, a team that is more intense with a lot more pressure is difficult to play with. Not here, they let you play more.

“I’ll be 28 in August. It would be a beautiful moment to make a jump in Europe. This could become a short term goal. And long term wise, I’d want to stay in this continent until I retire. After that, I’ll see if I go back to Argentina or not. For now, there’s still a lot of time left. There are more defeats than victories. Last year, I felt very comfortable. I felt like we would go to every pitch and win, win, win, win. It got to the point of saying “this is a dream. I can’t be living this.” Now, I’m back to reality and I realized that it’s normal to lose.

The 27 year old spoke about wanting to become a coach:

“I spoke to Menotti’s son who has a coaching school and I signed up to find out if the courses could be done from afar. I want to have it all completed by the time I retire. When I retire, I want to be a coach. I like the tactical aspect of it, team management. I feel like I could be important in helping put something together. Today, I’m at Ajax with a very clear identity and way of playing. I try to always add things and I know that you can always keep growing and learning.”

Angel Di Maria says he ripped Real Madrid letter before 2014 World Cup final

Roy Nemer
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11

Angel Di Maria spoke about what happened while he was with the Argentina national team prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.

Di Maria had received a letter from Real Madrid threatening him with a lawsuit should he proceed to play in that final. The former Madrid man was injured and his club wanted to try and sell him. The story goes that they had sent him a letter threatening him with a lawsuit should he play in the final. Speaking with Podemos Hablar of Telefe, here’s what he had to say:

“The three people who knew the truth were the doctor Daniel Martinez, Alejandro Sabella and myself. I came with a knock due to the game vs. Belgium, I was 90% fit. My foot wasn’t good but I wanted to play. I didn’t care if I never played football again. It was actually one of the things they told me could happen but for me, it was the World Cup final. It was my final.

“I knew that they wanted to sell me. And I got the card. Daniel gave it to me and said it was from Real Madrid but I didn’t even want to look at it and I ripped it up.

“I went to go speak to Alejandro and while crying I told him that I wasn’t 100%. I knew that he loved me and that he wanted me to play but he went with what was best for the team. I wanted to try to be there but at the end of the meeting he finally went with Enzo Perez in my place.”

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