Messi: We respect our opponents, we were not the worst before and we are not the best

The captain of the Argentina team, Lionel Messi expressed his regret that the fans were not present in the stadiums as usual due to the outbreak of the Corona epidemic.

In a telephone interview with the ESPN channel Messi said regarding his feelings after the title, the Rosario reflected: “There was a part of journalism that treated me as a failure and that I did not feel the shirt. You have to start by recognizing that we are not the best in the world. We were not the worst before and we are not the best now. The important thing is to leave everything out on the pitch. If we couldn't win, we couldn't [win "
He continued: “We do not believe that we are the best in the world, we must realize that we are not the best, we must start with humility, work and always do our best. The World Cup and the Copa America is not easy.”
Speaking about the return of the fans, he added: “We see that everything is crazy, it is a pity that it cannot be a stadium filled with the audience due to the epidemic, we want to enjoy all that together.”
“Believing that we reached our peak, believing that we are the best, we have to keep growing. Take advantage of the clean and jerk. The America Cup he has to give us the push to grow in the game, grow in football, “he said on the horizon of the World Cup in Qatar.

Lionel Messi referred to the celebrations that will take place at the Monumental, in the match between the Argentine National Team and Bolivia for Qualifying. “We are seeing that everything is crazy, a pity that it cannot be a full stadium due to the pandemic. It is a spectacular moment for us, we really want to enjoy all that, “he said.
About the family’s absence in Copa America, he continued: “I would have loved for my family to be at the Copa America but they were unable to be present at any game, even the final. It was a bit the price we had to pay.’’
He continued: “They have always been supportive of us and without them we cannot be heroes, and it is unfortunate for me and the rest of my colleagues who lived the same thing.”

Regarding the current group of players in Argentina that culminated in the Copa America and its comparison with the previous groups, he noted: “He trusted the players, new people, young people; he always knew what he wanted. We grew little by little. 2019 America’s Cup he took a leap, we began to grow as a National Team, all the work of him and the coaching staff, giving the boys the confidence to do what they did, and before that there was a great group as well, in 2014, 2015 and 2016, a group of friends.” he added about Scaloni.

Messi confirmed: “The group is getting stronger, we enjoy being together, we reach the finals in the same way, what happens is that when you win, it is looked at differently unfortunately, although it is not like that, a lot of people notice that.”
Messi expressed about his level: “I say, because despite not achieving goals, I had many good moments, in Copa America 2015, I lived good moments, just like in 2016, the World Cup . Today the national team finds me in a moment when I grew up as a player, And I look or play differently.”
Regarding the Copa America title, he continued: “This was the most difficult thing. Many things happened. I was lucky in Barcelona, because I often achieved titles quickly. In the national team the strikes came in succession, with the national team it was one hit after another, so the ability was To enjoy something with the national team is something special.”
He emphasized: “My children enjoyed the Copa America like never before, the boys sing the national anthem; they remember the final, against Brazil… It is amazing to see how they enjoy it, they were telling me, Dad, you are the heroes, they became fans of the national team.” They enjoyed it and we were able to be heroes.”

About his feeling of seeing the badge of the Copa America champion on the Argentina shirt, he admitted: “Iit is a beautiful feeling, it hurts me to see everything that happened before, but with calm I managed to achieve the dream on a personal level, and it was a wonderful thing.”
He concluded: “After Cuba, I had a happy holiday from the first day to the last day. Previously, I always went on vacation without being able to achieve the goal, and this was what made me bitter for the first 15 days.”