Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about the team’s Copa America quarter final match vs. Ecuador.

Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Wednesday where he spoke about Lionel Messi possibly playing against Ecuador in the quarter finals. In the same press conference, Scaloni also commented on Ecuador. Here is what he had to say:

“We are aware that Ecuador is a team that has grown a lot in recent times. They have great players, it is going to be a very complicated game.

“I don’t believe in statistics. Ecuador is a very well-worked team, it has very good players and a good coach.”

Scaloni also commented on him being suspended for Argentina’s 2-0 win vs. Peru:

“When you are the coach you want to be close to your players. What happened in the last game was a strange situation, we hope it does not happen again. It has happened to several coaches, unfortunately.”

“We will look for a way to hurt the rival, that is always our way.”

He also commented on the referees at the Copa America:

“Today, anyone can write whatever they want on social media. I would be cautious because they said the same thing in Qatar. When you win, people tend to say they favor the winning side because they have no other choice than to complain. I am the coach of the national team and I don’t believe that. We are only focused on ourselves and doing our job, anyone can say anything.

“A referee can make a mistake, it happens, they are human. There are plays that they review with VAR and they are very close calls. I don’t think they favor us, human error still exists. I completely dismiss that idea.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about Lionel Messi possibly playing against Ecuador and how they will try to have him.

Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Wednesday after being suspended for Argentina’s 2-0 win vs. Peru. Scaloni commented on Lionel Messi’s participation against Ecuador in their quarter final match. Here is what he had to say:

“We will wait before deciding on Messi. Yesterday, we had good feelings about Leo. It’s an option for Lautaro and Julián to start together if Leo is not there. We will wait for today’s training to discuss.

“”It changes things if Leo (Messi) doesn’t play. We’ll try to have him. It’s fair to wait until the last moment and let him take his time. Before training, I will talk with him to decide what we will do tomorrow. To pick the team, we will wait to see how he is, as we had good feelings yesterday.”

The Argentina national team trained in Houston and Lionel Messi did part of the training.

Lionel Scaloni’s team landed in Houston on Monday and trained at Houston Dynamo’s stadium. According to Gastón Edul, Messi did part of the training and the other part was kinesiology to recover.

Wednesday would be when the they will decide if Messi starts Argentina’s quarter final match vs. Ecuador at the Copa America or if he will come on in the second half.

Only one of Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María would be starting for the Argentina national team vs. Ecuador.

Lionel Messi did not play for Argentina vs. Peru and could start the quarter final match for Argentina vs. Ecuador on the bench. According to Gastón Edul, only one of Messi and Di María will play against Ecuador.

Per the report, if the match were to take place tomorrow, Messi would be the substitute and he would be substituted in the second half.